More visitors and more money heading to the Whitsundays
More people than ever are visiting one of Queensland’s most stunning locations, pumping over a billion dollars into the region with figures reminiscent of those prior to the Covid-19 crisis.
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More people than ever are visiting the Whitsundays, pumping over a billion dollars into the region with figures reminiscent of those prior to the Covid-19 crisis.
National and International Visitor Surveys for the year ending September 2024 show that visitor numbers were up, and so was visitor spending.
These numbers reflect a move in the right direction for the Whitsundays tourism industry after a difficult few years due to the pandemic.
More than $1.5 billion dollars was spent by visitors to the Whitsundays including $1.4 billion by domestic travellers, and $196.7 million by international.
CEO of Tourism Whitsundays, Tim Booth, said the latest results affirm the Whitsundays resilience and growing appeal across both domestic and international markets.
“Earlier this year, the Whitsundays welcomed a record number of combined international and domestic visitors to the region.
“The Whitsundays diverse mix of water and land-based experiences — from the islands to Airlie Beach, Bowen, and Collinsville — keeps drawing travellers back, and we’re excited to keep this momentum going into 2025.
“Domestically, we are thrilled to see an increase in visitor spending and longer stays, reflecting the value our region offers to travellers.”
The only decrease that was seen was in interstate travellers.
With numbers down 9 per cent year on year this demographic will be key to driving numbers up even further in the years to come.
“While intrastate travel remains strong, we’re keen to see more of our interstate visitors discover the magic of our stunning region,” said Mr Booth.
“We are committed to sustaining this momentum by continuing to offer world-class experiences, fostering strategic partnerships, and expanding our reach into new and existing markets.
“These efforts are vital to ensuring the Whitsundays remains a premier global destination.”
There were visitors all the way from the United Kingdom and North America showing the widespread appeal the Whitsundays have on an international stage.
It was recorded that 188,000 international visitors made their way to the Whitsundays, an 85 per cent recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels but their spending hit even bigger highs with a recovery rate of 129 per cent.
Ry Collins, Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor said the survey results confirm the Whitsundays remain the jewel in Australia’s tourism crown.
“This level of visitation not only reinforces our region’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier travel destinations but also supports local jobs, businesses, and communities,” he said.
“It’s a testament to the resilience of our tourism industry and the ongoing appeal of the Whitsundays on the world stage.”
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