An International Visitor Survey released recently reveals that Cairns and Great Barrier Reef has regained the number one position as the favourite Australian holiday destination for Japanese visitors.

While Japanese holiday visitors to Australia were up 12% for the year ending December 2010, the growth in numbers to Cairns and Great Barrier was 26%.

Rob Giason, CEO of Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) was pleased with the result.

“The Japanese market has come back strongly, contrary to some predictions. This result shows the importance of Cairns and Great Barrier Reef to the Australian economy as a holiday destination for Japanese holiday visitors.

"Local tourism operators have complemented the aviation capacity increases provided by Jetstar, by rebuilding the market. The yen is strong and there is no better time for the Cairns Vision mission made up of senior tourism industry representatives, which is travelling to Japan this month."

The other market that showed growth in holiday visitation during 2010 was China.

Australia-wide the increase was 33%, however Cairns and Great Barrier Reef welcomed 70,000 Chinese holiday visitors in 2010, an 85% increase on the previous year. China has climbed to become the third biggest holiday market for the region after Japan and the UK, with the USA a close fourth according to TTNQ.

The market from New Zealand to Cairns and Great Barrier Reef increased by 4% in holiday visitor numbers and 27% in holiday visitor nights in 2010.

The UK was surpassed by Japan as the region’s biggest single market in terms of holiday visitors but is still number one in holiday visitor nights. During 2010 UK holiday visitors spent 871,000 nights in the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region.