International visitor numbers to Queensland continued to climb in the past financial year with Queensland out-pacing other states in terms of growth from several key international markets.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the latest International Visitor Survey for the year ended June 2013 showed the industry was on track to return to its position as Australia’s pre-eminent tourism destination.

In the 2012-13 financial year, a six per cent increase in international visitor numbers to Queensland to more than two million, visitor nights increased by 12 per cent to 46 million and international visitors’ spend increased by four per cent to around $4 billion.
“This result was again driven by growth from China with Queensland welcoming a record 294,000 Chinese visitors, 24 per cent more than the previous year and the largest increase of any state in the country,” Ms Stuckey said.

“Queensland also increased its share of the US market welcoming 163,000 Americans, an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year and double the national growth.

“Encouragingly these results follow last month’s news that China Southern Airlines will increase services from Guangzhou to Brisbane to a daily flight in November, while Qantas also plans a daily service between Los Angeles and Brisbane from December to meet growing demand.”

Queensland also recorded the highest growth in the country across several other international markets including the UK (up 7% to 205,000), Continental Europe (up 6% to 275,000), Singapore (up 41% to 76,000), India (up 20% to 36,000) and Indonesia (up 32% to 25,000).

Ms Stuckey said the results were a vote of confidence in the Newman Government’s DestinationQ partnership with industry.

“In the DestinationQ 12 Month Report, delivered to industry last week, the government outlined its achievements for the tourism industry, including a focus on delivering and integrated tourism and events strategy, attracting aviation route development and investment in tourism product across the state,” she said.

“Queensland’s growth from the UK market, its strongest performance in years, was boosted by holiday arrivals for the British and Irish Lions tour, supported by Tourism and Events Queensland.”

Ms Stuckey said the international visitor’s survey also revealed that Queensland was the preferred destination for Japanese visitors with over half the Japanese market visiting the state.

For more information on the latest International Visitor Survey visit – www.tq.com.au/research.