Backpackers voted the Gold Coast a clear favourite ahead of Noosa, the Whitsundays, Cairns Melbourne and Fraser Island.
Held at an evening gala on the Gold Coast, the ceremony featured alongside the Independent Travel Exchange (ITE) and the Adventure Travel and Backpacker Industry Conference (ABiC).
Tens of thousands of backpacker votes were amassed over a 10-week national campaign that featured in TNT Magazine & TNT Downunder, online at www.tntmagazine.com and www.tntdownunder.com and via the various social media channels.
Gold Coast Tourism Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Strategy, Dean Gould said the award win is a testament to the confidence the tourism industry has in the youth market.
“There is great potential for the youth market to significantly grow the tourism pie, and accolades like this showcase our progressive tourism offering to the next generation of travellers.”
Mr Gould says international youth visitors are a major contributor to the tourism sector.
“More than 300,000 international travellers aged 15 to 29 visit the Gold Coast annually, accounting for approximately 30% of all international arrivals to the region.”
According to the latest International Visitor Survey* figures 138,496 international backpackers headed to the Gold Coast in the past year, up 7%, with the average length of overnight visitation increasing by 10%.
“International backpackers stay 13 nights on the Gold Coast, almost double the average when compared to traditional holiday makers. They not only stay longer but are actively seeking locally-lead authentic immersive experiences,” said Mr Gould.
In September, Gold Coast Tourism partnered with Hostelworld, the largest online hostel booking to create the world's first temporary fully functional Sand Hostel in Broadbeach. Perched on the foreshore at Kurrawa Terrace, the event played out on television, radio and online globally reaching hundreds of thousands of people who were greeted with enviable coastal panoramas.
With the youth travel category more competitive than ever, Gold Coast Tourism is dedicated to growing the market and boasts a dedicated Youth Specialist, the only such resource appointed by an Australian regional tourism organisation.
“Youth travellers are tomorrow's family and business travellers, so it's in our interest to expose this resilient market to our destination, early on in their global travels,” added Mr Gould.
As the only national awards for the adventure and backpacking sector, The Golden Backpack Awards recognise excellence amongst 37 dedicated categories including favourite hostel, tour operator, best travel agent, visitor attraction and indigenous experience.
*All figures quoted are from international visitor data provided by the International Visitor Survey (IVS), for the period 12 months to June 2017, conducted by Tourism Research Australia. Youth are defined as 15-29 years. Specific youth expenditure figures for the Gold Coast are not collected.
Website: www.DestinationGoldCoast.com
No comments:
Post a Comment