Brisbane lures 100k international students worth $3.5b

It might not be instantly associated with Brisbane’s aviation sector, but it draws 100,000 people to the city each year and contributes $3.5 billion.

LURING more international students to Brisbane and keeping them longer is a key plank in adding billions of dollars more to the southeast Queensland economy, industry bosses say.

Almost 100,000 international students made Brisbane their home base last year for university and TAFE courses, coming from more than 160 countries.

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Brisbane has a top reputation for turning out happy students, with a 92 per cent satisfaction rating, Brisbane Marketing CEO Brett Fraser said.

But he warned Brisbane and southeast Queensland could not afford to become complacent in the face of growing competition from other cities and online education providers.

“The international education sector is critical for Brisbane’s economic growth, contributing more than $3.5 billion to our economy each year,” Mr Fraser said.

“In 2018, Brisbane welcomed 95,000 enrolments from international students, who enjoy our globally recognised universities and educational institutions.

“While Brisbane universities are thriving institutions and research hubs, we are also blessed with enviable weather and an incredible outdoor lifestyle.

Sri Lankan student Evan Fernando, 20, picked Brisbane as the top spot to study. Picture: Annette Dew

“Students want to experience our incredible lifestyle, and that’s why so many students who choose to study overseas base themselves in Brisbane.

“We are one of the most diversified education cities in Australia, with students coming from more than 160 countries.

“Our city attracts students from Colombia, Brazil, China, Japan, Indonesia and India, and we have achieved strong growth in international student numbers over the past two years, with enrolments growing 10 per cent in 2018 and 12 per cent in 2017.”

Future Aviation — a two-week series in The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail in partnership with Brisbane Airport, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Marketing and PwC — aims to highlight the opportunities offered by the airport’s new $1.3 billion runway, which opens in the middle of next year.

A healthy international student sector creates a massive tourist boost, with parents and family members coming to visit the students in Brisbane.

Brisbane Marketing’s Visitor Economy 2031 Vision aims to add another $6.5 billion to the tourism economy with a series of measures, including offering extra experiences and attractions, as well as encouraging visitors to stay longer.

Among the targets in the plan — which was a key action point in The Courier-Mail’s Future Tourism action plan earlier this year — is increasing international students visitor nights from the current 18 per cent of the market share to 23 per cent.

Mr Fraser said Study Brisbane had hosted trade missions to Brazil, Japan, Colombia, Indonesia and China, and has doubled the number of international student enrolments.

“Supporting international education is our first step and it will be a great benefit to our local economy,” Mr Fraser said.

According to the Vision plan, “Brisbane must maintain its well-earned reputation as a great student city in the face of increasing global competition for international students and the growing popularity of remote learning.”

International students who enjoy their time studying become ambassadors for the region, promoting it to others in their home countries and communities and driving more growth.

Sri Lankan student Evan Fernando, 20, started his creative arts course at the Australian Catholic University in July, enticed to its Brisbane campus in Nudgee because of its proximity to the airport.

“I had the intention to study at ACU,” Mr Fernando said.

After looking into ACU’s Melbourne and Sydney’s campuses, significantly further from their cities’ airports, Mr Fernando saidhe’d made his choice to settle on the southeast.

“I found this (campus) the closet one to the airport,” he said.

Already Mr Fernando has been visited by one parent, with plans for more visits on the way.

“My father came (to Australia),” Mr Fernando said.

“I am planning to make my mother come here, just to show her around.”

“It’s a really beautiful country,” he said.

“The people are really friendly and kind.”