A Queensland tourism leader says it is too early to tell how many Kiwis will choose to holiday in the state instead of taking long haul trips, as has happened during previous geo-political upheaval.
There hasn’t been an uptick in bookings since war started in the Middle East and fuel prices have soared, but a Kiwi travel spike is a possibility, says Tourism and Events Queensland ceo Craig Davidson.
“People in a crisis where bad things happen in the world tend to stay closer to home,’’ he says.
. . . Most Connected
Queensland’s tourism industry is in market this week to engage with stakeholders, reinforcing its commitment to its largest international source market by visitor volume. A delegation of 38 Queensland tourism operators and six regional organisations is taking the road show to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with the theme Queensland is Calling.
New figures show 508,000 Kiwis visited Queensland last year, up 4.5% year-on-year, and they spent AUD990.4 million on overnight stays, an increase of 18.1%.
Queensland is now the most connected Australian state from New Zealand with airline links booming.
Last year there were 11% more seats available to Queensland, including new Jetstar services ex AKL to the Sunshine Coast, CHC to Cairns, and Dunedin and Hamilton to the Gold Coast (OOL).
From mid-year Qantas will fly from AKL to OOL, giving passengers a business class option.
Visit Sunshine Coast’s Emily Zinowki says JQ’s year-round ser vice launched in 2024 and Air NZ’s seasonal service from AKL had boosted what is the area’s biggest single international market. Luxury accommodation options are also growing, she adds.
. . . GC Numbers
Kiwis spent a record AUD381 million on the Gold Coast and remain the single biggest market with 217,000 visits to the city last year.
Experience Gold Coast head of visitor, economy and corporate relations Rachel Hancock says the organisation is doubling down on the push here with a fresh campaign built especially around new JQ routes into the state.
