Noosa's interstate visitors led the move towards a record $1.59 billion visitor spend for a year ending September, according to Tourism Research Australia's latest survey results, released on 20 Dec 2023.
In the year to September 2023, the total spend was +8.3% more than last year and almost +53% higher than in the corresponding pre-COVID period in 2019. It's made up of:
Overnight spend was almost +6% more than last year and almost +53% more than in 2019, according to the National Visitor Survey data.
During this period, we've seen the fuller impact of our recent interstate-focused winter campaign, Find Your Inner Noosa, which won the Bronze Award at the Queensland Tourism Awards, with interstate visitors spending $846.6 million, a record for a year ending September.
This was 19% higher than last year and 43% more than in 2019. Their average spend per person ($2040) is almost double that of a visitor from Queensland ($1065).
Interstate visitors account for more than half of the total visitor spend (53%) but only 18% of total visitor numbers, so their value as a lower impact visitor is vital to Noosa’s important tourism sector.
They’re also less likely to drive here than day trippers and visitors from around Queensland.
A look at longer-term figures shows the success of many years of
Tourism Noosa taking a 'value-over-volume' approach that encourages
visitors to explore the region, taking tours, dining out, and visiting
our retailers, wellness therapists and other businesses.
In the past five years, overnight visitor spend has increased 78% while numbers have increased only 11%.
While the average length of stay has stayed stable from last year, average spend per person for overnight visitors increased 16% to $1486.
