The latest stats are in, and it’s official: the number of overseas travellers to the Sunshine Coast is growing steadily, and its the Yanks who are driving the surge
According to the latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) statistics, there was a 4.5 per cent increase in overseas visitors (to 256,000) to the Sunshine Coast for the year ending September 2015. And of the overall visitor numbers, the US inbound visitor numbers grew an astounding 20.9 per cent – yep, the Americans are flocking to the beautiful Sunshine Coast.
The strong growth reported is said to be the result of two powerful factors: a strong US dollar, and the growing popularity of Bindi Irwin in the US market.
Hot off the d-floor after taking out the 21st season of US series Dancing With The Stars, the pocket-sized 17-year-old has been deemed the face of the Sunshine Coast.
“The power of Bindi’s success in America’s Dancing with the Stars can’t be underestimated. She did a brilliant job promoting Queensland and her Sunshine Coast home-base, and with the American dollar maintaining its high value against the Australian dollar, we believe we can really translate the ‘Bindi factor’ into substantial US increases.”
Simon Ambrose, CEO, Visit Sunshine Coast
And with the 30th anniversary of Crocodile Dundee next year – to many Americans, the epitome of the Australian way – 2016 is looking very positive for US growth to Australia.
The Sunshine Coast is also set to benefit considerably from the re-launch later this month of direct Qantas services into Sunshine Coast Airport. The service will connect the Sunshine Coast to destinations across the Qantas international network and help promote more inbound tourism from long-haul markets such as the US and the UK.
The Sunshine Coast tourism body recently rebranded (#VisitSunshineCoast) to attract more inbound tourism to this stunning Aussie destination, and we think 2016 will be a stellar year for them indeed.
Have you visited the Sunshine Coast lately? Are you noticing more American travellers? Let us know in the comments below.
