Worrying Tourism Numbers for Whitsundays

Spending by international tourists in the Whitsundays has fallen by almost 30% compared to the previous year.
Nights spent in the Whitsundays by international visitors are down almost 20%.
Spending by each visitor per night is also down 20%.
International visitor numbers overall are down 15.

The Whitsundays has slipped from 10th to 16th for most international tourist dollars spent in a region in Australia. It now lies behind the NSW Northern Rivers (15), Darwin (14), Hobart (13),  NSW South Coast (10), Sunshine Coast (9) & our friends in the Tropical North (6).

	International Visitors to the Whitsundays Years Ending 31 March 2011 & 2010
	Total $million				Share%					Per Visitor					Per Night
	2010	Rank	2009	Rank		2010	Rank	2009	Rank		2010	Rank	2009	Rank		2010	Rank	2009	Rank
Excluding Package Expenditure	105	16	146	12		1	15	1	12		550	18	660	17		97	4	114	2
Including Package Expenditure	116	16	163	10		1	16	1	10		608	18	734	17		107	4	127	2

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	International Visitors to the Whitsundays
	Visitors '000				Total Bed Nights '000					Avg Nights Spent
	2010	Rank	2009	Rank		2010	Rank	2009	Rank		2010	Rank	2009	Rank
Excluding Package Expenditure	191	10	222	10		1086	18	1284	19		6	18	6	19
Including Package Expenditure	191	11	222	10		1086	18	1284	18		6	18	6	19

Almost all numbers concerning the Whitsundays Tourism industry are in the red. The Whitsundays did increase its rank by 1 in average nights spent from 19 to 18.

Source:  Australian Department of Resources, Energy & Tourism