Not only is Brisbane adding international air services at a fast rate, Australian domestic visitors from the country’s east coast are heading there in record numbers, with latest statistics showing the Queensland capital has become a favourite destination for Sydneysiders and Melburnians.
Brisbane’s Deputy Mayor, Krista Adams, said the National Visitor Survey from Tourism Research Australia revealed record numbers of visitors from Sydney and Melbourne had converged on Brisbane over the year to March 2019.
“The number of visitors from Sydney climbed 9.4% to reach an all-time high of 923,000 while Melbourne visitors rose 4.6% to reach a record 554,000 over the year,” Adams said.
The news comes after heightened international visitation from new air services. AirAsia recently added new direct services to Bangkok and expects to carry up to 150,000 people between the two cities over the next year.
More recently, Royal Brunei Airlines began a new four-times-weekly service between Brisbane and Brunei, using an Airbus A320 NEO to resume a route it last flew in 2011
On the domestic front: “the National Visitor Survey also revealed the total number of domestic visitors to our city reached an all-time high and we smashed records across the holiday, business and visiting friends and relatives’ segments,” Adams said.
“Overall, these visitors spent a record amount in Brisbane – up 7.5% to $4.8 billion.
“Australians are increasingly attracted to Brisbane as the city offers more to see and do through new hotels and attractions, culinary experiences and entertainment precincts such as Howard Smith Wharves.
“We continue to drive Brisbane as a destination of choice through campaigns in our southern markets.
Brisbane’s Story Bridge by night
“Major events over the year also attracted visitors – including the Brisbane International, Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, World Science Festival Brisbane and Curiocity – and we continue to work to grow our events calendar.
“Increasing the number of visitors to our city is vitally important to support our small businesses and jobs across our accommodation, retail, hospitality and service sectors.”
The following records, pertaining to Brisbane and deriving from the National Visitor Survey, year-ending March 2019, speak for themselves:
- Total expenditure AUD 4.8 billion up 7.5% – record
- Total visitors 7.6 million up 9.9% – record
- Holiday visitors 2.2 million up 6.8% – record
- VFR visitors 2.9 million up 7.9% – record
- Business visitors 1.9 million up 14.5% – record
- Total visitor nights 22.0 million up 4.3% – record
Edited by Peter Needham
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