New figures show Queensland is the premier holiday destination choice for interstate travellers, as its struggling $2.5bn tourism sector pitches for business as the Palaszczuk government lifts border restrictions.
The most sought-after regions in Queensland were the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, followed by tropical north Queensland, for both intrastate and interstate visitors.
With international borders closed, John O’Sullivan, chief executive of adventure tourism brand Experience Co, said he expected Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef to be beneficiaries as they became substitutes for tropical destinations like Fiji, Bali and Thailand.
The survey follows research by University of Queensland Business School Associate Professor Gabby Walters in late April, which found that local and interstate holiday-makers were likely to shun capital cities in favour of the coast and regional areas, Max Maddison reports.
