Thursday 6 September 2007

HOT START TO WINTER TOURISM
The number of visitors to Tasmania rose eight per cent in the June quarter 2007 compared to the June quarter 2006.

“This is a fantastic endorsement of Tasmania’s tourism development, marketing and events strategies,” said the Minister for Tourism, Arts and the Environment, Paula Wriedt.

While opening today’s Cradle Coast Tourism Forum, Ms Wriedt released the results of the Tasmanian Visitor Survey for the June quarter and the 2006-2007 financial year.

“At a time when domestic tourism is facing challenging competition from international travel and other household expenditure, Tasmania has recorded four consecutive quarters of growth in visitor numbers, nights and spend.
“Our June quarter visitors this year spent a total of 10 per cent more while they were here.

“Importantly they also stayed longer, with a total of 16 per cent more nights, than in the June quarter 2006.
“Tasmania has fought hard over many years to increase visitor spend and nights through the shoulder and winter seasons and this continues to pay off,” Ms Wriedt said.

“The average length of time visitors stayed in Tasmania during the June quarter was 8.9 nights, which is a substantial increase on the 8.4 nights recorded for the same period last year.”

Ms Wriedt said Tasmania’s Island of Inspiration marketing campaign was clearly capturing the attention of potential visitors.

In the 2006-2007 financial year, approximately 827,000 scheduled air and sea passengers visited Tasmania, an increase of 1.8 per cent on the previous year.

Total nights for the year increased by 10 per cent to 7.27 million nights, while average length of stay rose from 8.2 nights to 8.8 nights and total spend rose 13 per cent to $1.32 billion.

Ms Wriedt congratulated the Cradle Coast region for its professional and innovative approach to increasing visitation to the area by using stories about local culture and heritage to draw together a diversity of tourism experiences.

“Key players in the Tourism industry have been out in force in the North-West recently.

“Last weekend 110 travel agents and their escorts toured the region on a Discover Tasmania familiarisation trip.

“These agents were invited to the state from all over Australia by Tasmania’s Temptation Holidays, TASVacations, Under Downunder Tours, AAT Kings, Australian Pacific Tours and Travel Point, and most groups travelled at least one way courtesy of TT Line.

“These trips are an important part of ensuring that key industry contact understand first hand the diversity of experiences for visitors to the region, as well as its outstanding natural beauty,” Ms Wriedt said.

For further information contact Tourism Tasmania's Communications Unit

(03) 6230 8244
email mediainfo@tourism.tas.gov.au