 Tourists spend $732 million in Noosa annually |
14th March, 2008 |
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New figures show that Noosa attracts an average of 855,000 domestic overnight visitors and 135,000 international visitors per year, supporting small business and putting more money into the local economy. Warren Truss, the Federal Member for Wide Bay, said that the new figures from Tourism Research Australia, which are based on a three year average to June 2007, reveal why people are choosing to visit Noosa. “923,000 day visitors to Noosa spend a total average of $73 million per year. More than 855,000 Australians choose to come to Noosa annually, spending a total of $591 million which is helping local cafés and restaurants, retailers, hotels and bars,” Mr Truss said. “Tourists also support the Noosa Farmers Market and the Noosa Marina Market which promote local craft and produce. “In addition, about 135,000 international visitors visit our region annually, spending approximately $68 million, which assists the local economy and creates new jobs. “The new survey shows that the biggest drawcards for tourists to Noosa are the beaches, cafés, restaurants and shopping,” Mr Truss said. The Tourism Research Australia data shows the average number of nights a domestic visitor spends in Noosa is 4.7 nights, compared to international visitors who stay an average of 6.2 nights. Mr Truss said that tourism is vitally important to small businesses in the local area, which rely on spending by visitors to sustain and create jobs. “There are more than 288 businesses in Noosa which depend on tourism spending to increase their yield,” Mr Truss said. “These new figures can help small businesses identify the types of visitors who are attracted to the region, so they can tailor their marketing plans accordingly. This can lead to increased productivity for local businesses and greater opportunities for tourists as well.” To see a full summary of the Tourism Profiles for Local Government Areas in Regional Australia, log onto http://www.tra.australia.com/regional.asp?sub=0159 | |