Tourism numbers for region on the rise

MARCH 15, 2017: We know it's beautiful one day, perfect the next in Mackay and the Whitsundays, and others are working that out too.The latest latest tourism data released today  shows an increase of 11 per cent in international visitor numbers to Mackay in the last 12 months, and an increase of 19 per cent in international visitor numbers for the Whitsundays.Mackay welcomed 47,000 international visitors in 2016 and they injected $31 million into the economy.The Whitsundays welcomed 248,000 international visitors in that timeframe and they spent $204 million in the region.More international tourists are visiting the region and they're spending more money.  That's good news for the 5325 people in the region directly employed in the industry.The figures come from Tourism Research Australia and they also indicated that spending by international tourists was up 19 per cent in Mackay, and up  25 per cent in the Whitsundays.Tourism remains an important focus for the Coalition Government, and there are moves to further harness the growth from key Asian nations including in China and Indonesia.To support the tourism industry to grow further the Coalition Government has committed a record $639 million for Tourism Australia to market Australia overseas.The International Visitor Survey is available on the Tourism Research Australia website: www.tra.gov.auENDS