Chinese lead Gold Coast international tourism surge

CHINESE tourists are leading an international visitor revival on the Gold Coast, according to figures released yesterday.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter is happy with the tourism increase.

CHINESE tourists are leading an international visitor revival on the Gold Coast which has seen almost $1 billion splashed out in just 12 months, according to figures released yesterday.

The rise has buoyed the $4.6 billion Gold Coast tourism industry with experts saying its means more cash in the coffers of operators.

The latest report from Tourism and Events Queensland showed the city had nine per cent more international tourists compared to last year.

The 811,000 visitors to the Coast spent up big, with more than $900,000 million splashed out.

Chinese tourists lead the charge and are now the city's most frequent visitors.

In the 12 months ending in September, more than 202,000 Chinese visitors came to the city, which was up more than 36 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Gold Coast Tourism boss Martin Winter said the boom in Chinese tourists followed a major marketing push and more direct flights from China to Brisbane.

"The Aussie dollar is dropping, and that makes its more attractive for international visitors to come to the Gold Coast," he said.

Mr Winter said allegations of a Chinese national being investigated for industrial espionage at the CSIRO was unlikely to have an immediate impact on the tourism

"We can't predict what role politics will play, but I don't think it's anything to worry about," he said.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter is happy with the tourism increase.

More than 181,000 New Zealanders came to the Coast in the 12 months ending in September, which was similar to the previous year.

Japanese tourism had the only significant decline in visitation to the Coast, dropping almost 20 per cent to 56,000 tourists.

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said this was due to several factors including a spate a natural disasters in Japan which had impacted on the country's economy.

"We are working very actively at resurrecting that," she said.

She said the boom in tourism on the Coast meant there was more money flowing through the city and its businesses.

"Without a doubt there has been an incredible reinvigoration in the tourism industry through Queensland and particularly the Gold Coast," Ms Stuckey said.

The Gold Coast's theme parks are a major tourism drawcard for the city. Pic by Luke Marsden.