Tourism Research Australia data shows domestic visitors up but staying fewer nights on Gold Coast

GOLD Coast tourism boss Martin Winter said he is “very pleased” with growth in domestic tourist numbers despite a stagnation in the number of bed nights.

GOLD Coast tourism boss Martin Winter said he is “very pleased” with growth in domestic tourist numbers despite a stagnation in the number of bed nights.

Although domestic visitor numbers have grown two per cent in the past 12 months, nights booked by domestic tourists have remained flat at almost 13.5 million.

The lack of growth on the Coast contrasts with a five per cent surge across Queensland and four per cent jump for Australia during the same period.

The Spit looking toward Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

The Tourism Research Australia (TRA) national visitor survey figures show a four per cent increase in domestic visitor spending on the Coast, in line with spending increases across the state and country.

The new domestic statistics released last night mirror TRA numbers earlier this month, showing record numbers of international visitors coming to the Gold Coast but having shorter stays.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter: “The lack of growth in visitor night stays is a continuing concern.”

Foreign visitors stayed 281,000 fewer nights in the year to December 2016 than the previous year, spending $24m less.

That was despite a 14 per cent jump in international visitors to 1.027 million people.

Mr Winter said overall he was “very pleased” with the growth in domestic numbers.

“For it to be up just under two per cent on the previous year provides further evidence of a strong market, given the impact of the Dreamworld tragedy,” the Gold Coast Tourism CEO said.

The Gold Coast is attracting more domestic visitors but their number of bed nights are stagnating despite domestic bed night growth across the state and country. Picture: Queensland Tourism

“The lack of growth in visitor night stays is a continuing concern.

“It was first identified more than two years ago and irrespective of our efforts to encourage visitors to stay longer we have not yet been able to move the dial.

“It’s critical to the industry as it impacts on visitor spend which is our primary objective.”