Intrastate travel driving tourism rush

The Sunshine Coast has expanded its intrastate travel market and offset disruption from COVID-19.

According to the latest National Visitor Survey 837,000 intrastate visitors travelled to the Sunshine Coast in the September quarter, compared to 599,000 for the corresponding quarter in 2019.

New Visit Sunshine Coast CEO, Matt Stoeckel said overall visitor numbers were down, but the Sunshine Coast recorded the lowest decrease of all Queensland regions, declining -3.7% to 886,000 for the quarter.

Mr Stoeckel said the National Visitor Survey figures highlighted the impact of Covid-19 on  tourism, but targeting the intrastate market had insulated the region from the worst.

“The second half of 2020 was dominated by uncertainty and disruptions caused by COVID-19. 

“With over three million residents within a 300km radius of the Sunshine Coast, the region switched its strategy and focused on targeting this significant drive market to alleviate the declines from interstate and international sources.”