Regional Australia makes a comeback as travellers go bush

REGIONAL tourism is growing faster than that of city areas as Aussie travellers abandon the big tourist spots to explore further afield.

AUSSIES are rediscovering the bush in booming numbers with regional tourism growing faster than that in city areas.

The weaker dollar - making overseas travel less attractive, better marketing campaigns and a desire to escape holiday crowds is driving the regional rush.

Statistics from Tourism Research Australia show in the year to September domestic visitor nights in regional parts of the country grew almost five per cent, compared with just 1.7 per cent growth in capital cities.

Some of the most dramatic increases occurred in regional New South Wales — where visitor nights climbed 7.6 per cent — while in the same period, nights spent in Sydney receded four per cent.

Growth in visitors to the Northern Territory boomed 17.5 per cent, in contrast to a 3.3 per cent increase in Darwin.

Alice Springs is proving a bigger tourist drawcard than Darwin in the Top End. Picture: Peter Nunn

In Queensland, the Whitsundays and Sunshine Coast recorded more than double the growth in domestic visitor numbers of Brisbane and three times that of the Gold Coast.

Regional Tasmania also saw greater growth than Hobart, and areas like Victoria’s High Country and Geelong fared much better than Melbourne.

Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO Carol Giuseppi said it was a “good result” for regional areas which still struggled with poor dispersal of international visitors.

Families are seeking to escape crowded beaches and busy roads at places like Borrodell Vineyard in Orange, NSW. Picture: Destination NSW

It marks a dramatic turnaround on just two years ago when there were fears regional tourism was dying as travellers instead poured their money into exploring capital cities or going overseas.

Federal Tourism Minister Steve Ciobo said it was proving to be a golden period for the visitor economy, thanks in part to the lower dollar.

“I’m confident that based on conversations I’ve had with operators, that people are feeling really buoyant,” said Minister Ciobo, currently holidaying with family in Tropical North Queensland,” he said.

“This has been an absolutely outstanding Christmas-New Year period and various operators have indicated they’re enjoying strong demand and seeing good yield.

“That’s tremendous in terms of the change happening across the Australian economy as we shift away from the mining boom and focus on other parts of the economy.”

Tilba Lake Camp on the New South Wales South Coast. Picture: Destination NSW

The figures coincided with a big surge in caravan and camping holidays, and the popularity of places like Bowhill in South Australia and Bowral, Tamworth and Orange in NSW.

Regional director of Stayz holiday rentals, Anton Stanish said the regional towns had proven to be their most in-demand places this summer.

“These locations are great for families wanting to escape crowded beaches and busy roads,” Mr Stanish said.
“They’re attracted to the fresh country air, vineyard escapes and lake activities such as swimming and boating.”

Cameron Arnold from Destination Network North Coast said the weaker dollar had helped steer more visitors to the area, making it the third most popular domestic holiday spot after Melbourne and Sydney.

Not even a series of shark attacks had slowed visitor growth in the area although “parts of the industry had been impacted”.

“Previously the infrastructure was looking tired, but a lot of work has been done including to the Pacific Highway,” Mr Arnold said.

“It’s mainly self-drive but our airports are going gangbusters and punching well above their weight.”

Originally published as Regional Australia makes a comeback as travellers go bush