A record number of Asian visitors to Brisbane has helped the city post all-time high international visitation and expenditure numbers.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the latest International Visitor Survey from Tourism Research Australia revealed visitor numbers from across Asia to Brisbane climbed 5.5 percent to a record 605,000 in the year to March.
“Record numbers of visitors from Asia were boosted by individual markets, with China up 6.2 percent to a record 261,000, Korean visitors climbing 9.8 per cent to 41,000 and Indian visitors rising 11.8 per cent to an all-time high of 39,000,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Taiwan has also become a juggernaut with this market now our fifth largest international tourism market, with visitor numbers growing 16.3 per cent to 60,000 over the year. Asian tourists are increasingly attracted to Brisbane’s lifestyle offerings through growth in new hotels, precincts, restaurants and venues.”
“Direct flights from China and Japan and growth in aviation capacity from and through destinations such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore over the years are helping attract more visitors from Asia. The new AirAsia direct flights from Bangkok to Brisbane from the end of June will also open up a new market for us.”
Cr Schrinner said, overall, Brisbane attracted 1.4 million international visitors who spent an all-time high of $2.8 billion over the year to March.
“Brisbane has seen continuous growth in international visitor numbers since 2014 and a Team Brisbane approach to international marketing activities and a focus on increasing aviation capacity will help us keep this momentum going.”
