Increase in international visitors to Gold Coast

There has been a rise in the level of international tourism in Australia’s Gold Coast.According to figures from Tourism Research Australia, there has been a sharp rise in visitors during the first nine months of 2010.

A total of 842,000 travellers from overseas visited the popular region, with the highest increase coming from China. Data showed there was a 19 per cent rise in Chinese travellers – totalling 114,000 overall. There was also a three per cent increase in holidaymakers taking flights to Australia from Japan.

“The Gold Coast continues to lead the recovery for the Australian tourism industry, defying state and national trends in key international visitor markets,” explained Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter.

He added: “Our ability to attract a six per cent rise in international visitors is a credit to the city’s wide popularity and the positive work of our tourism businesses which are out there fighting for every tourist.”

There are direct public transport links for those taking flights to Australia and arriving at the nearby Gold Coast Airport.

Written by Erin Marshall.