Foreign travellers soar past a million into Gold Coast led by Chinese, Japanese, Americans, Kiwis

FOREIGN tourists into the Gold Coast have surged past a million again — and it’s no surprise who is leading the way. Find out why tourism leaders are celebrating the latest data

INTERNATIONAL tourists into the Gold Coast have again surged through the magic million mark, with Japanese visitor growth leading the influx.

The number of foreigners holidaying in the city overall is up nine per cent to 1,034,000 for the year to March compared with the previous 12 months.

International tourists also cleared the one million hurdle for the first time in two decades for the 12 months to September last year.

Japanese tourists including 24-year-olds Ikumi Shimane and Misaki Miyazaki from Tokyo led international visitor growth into the Gold Coast for the 12 months to March. Picture: Adam Head

Japanese visitor growth led the way up 18 per cent to 66,500, followed by Americans up 14 per cent to 39,500.

China continued to be the biggest Gold Coast visitor market with 295,000, up 10 per cent, following by 209,000 New Zealanders, up 11 per cent.

Visitors from Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, France and Italy also recorded double digit growth.

All up, the latest Tourism Research Australia figures show foreigners spent $1.2 billion in the city during 12 months to March.

The number of Japanese tourists visiting the Gold Coast climbed 18 per cent to 66,500 for the 12 months to March. Japanese brothers Tatsuki, 8, and Naruki Kakuta, 6, enjoy Surfers Paradise Beach. Picture: Adam Head

While visitor numbers are consistently tracking upwards, bed nights and spend have decreased on the Gold Coast, with TRA figures back in December showing foreign visitors stayed 281,000 fewer nights and spent $24 million less.

But Gold Coast-based Federal Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo welcomed the latest confirmation of visitor rises, saying the tourism sector is forecast to continue growing into the next decade.

“The Gold Coast continues to be high on the agenda for overseas visitors and these figures show the one million international tourists who visited our city provided a welcome boost for our local economy,” he said.

“These figures show international tourists are continuing to drive local jobs and economic growth.”

Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo doing his best for tourism promotion in Japan earlier this year.

The Gold Coast’s million-plus foreign visitors contributed to 2,583,000 across Queensland, up seven per cent on the previous year.

Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan welcomed the figures but said the city “needs to do more to attract — and keep — quality international visitors such as Chinese and Japanese travellers which drive our tourism revenue”.

Chinese visitors spent about $1000 more per trip than the average Coast traveller, he said.

Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan. Picture: Scott Fletcher

“Things such as Chinese street signs and Chinese-language employees across the industry would benefit our city as a whole,” he said.

The visitor statistics show the average length of stay is 10 nights with 9.8 million bed nights racked up by internationals.

COAST FIRST TIMERS

First-time visitors overall to Coast up 14 per cent to 557,000;

Return visitors up three per cent;

First-time Chinese up 17 per cent (by 32,900 to 231,000);

First-time Koreans up 46 per cent (by 7400 to 23,500);

First-time Japanese up 17 per cent (by 5300 to 36,700);

First-time Americans up 25 per cent (by 5000 to 25,200)

*Source: Tourism Research Australia