Visitors can’t resist Noosa’s natural charms

THE latest international visitor survey (IVS) data for the year ending June 2016 reveals good news for Noosa, with international numbers reaching an all time high and spend reaching over $100 million.
International visitor numbers to the Noosa region increased by 7.4 per cent in the year ending June 2016 – to reach a record 146,000 – while, importantly, international spend increased 47 per cent to reach $100.5 million.
Tourism Noosa CEO Damien Massingham said that Noosa’s strong appeal to international visitors, combined with targeted activity meant that the destination was reaping significant benefits from international markets.
“This is Noosa’s seventh consecutive quarter of growth and travellers from overseas are increasingly being drawn to Noosa’s natural beauty and the incredible range of visitor experiences on our doorstep,” he said.
According to the data, the record international spend was up 47.4 per cent on the previous year, with expenditure by New Zealanders up by 48 per cent to $29.5 million, the UK up 16 per cent to $15.8 million and Germany up 24 per cent to $6.1 million.
Mr Massingham said it was particularly pleasing to see solid growth from New Zealand after a number of softer years from this market.
“Noosa’s New Zealand numbers are the highest they have been since 2010, and importantly our nights increased by 53 per cent to 19,000, the strongest result since 2008,” he said.
“Tourism Noosa’s proactive and consistent work in the international markets, partnered with a commitment from local operators and strong support from the travel trade, is reaping rewards for the destination. These positive results highlight the need to plan for continued growth and the Noosa Global Market Strategy, which we launched late 2015, is the roadmap to our international activity over the coming years.
“This increase in spend by international tourists in our region is vitally important for our economy as it helps local jobs to be retained and created.”