International visitors give Mackay Region a major boost

New statistics have shown an increase in the number of international visitors to The Mackay Region, which could have a flow-on effect to other industries.

International visitor numbers for The Mackay Region have increased by 10.8 per cent for the year ending December 2016.

Out of the 47,000 international visitors the region received, 35,000 were purely holiday-makers which meant a 27.3 per cent increase for this type of visitation for the year.

Key drivers of this growth were the 9,000 visitors from Germany, who contributed to the combined European and UK visitor count of 26,000 – an increase of almost 17 per cent.

General Manager of Mackay Tourism, Tas Webber, said the latest results were encouraging for the future of tourism in the region.

“This is the true growth in our tourism industry that we’ve been focusing on and working with our tourism operators to achieve,” Mr Webber said.

“We are starting to experience positive outcomes, both domestically and internationally, as a result of our multi-award winning tourism operators, the hard work and persistence of our tourism industry, and the support of stakeholders.”

“Mackay is at the forefront of regional dispersal of international visitors and can offer natural attractions not found anywhere else; like sunrise on the beach with wallabies, scuba diving with platypus, uncrowded islands like Keswick and fantastic fishing experiences.” 

Contact: 

Melissa Woods - Communications Officer

0448 994 180

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

Published: 15 March 2017

 

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