The Premier is welcoming new tourism figures revealing while visitor numbers are steady compared to before the pandemic, they’re spending bucketloads more.
While the number of international tourists has halved to 142,000 in the year to March compared to the same time in 2019, mainland visitors made up the difference, and also stayed here longer while shelling out.
A record $3.96 billion was spent over the period, up around 60 per cent on pre-COVID levels.
‘Importantly, while total visitor numbers are at pre-pandemic levels, nights spent in Tasmania is up 16 per cent – meaning tourists are staying longer and spending more while they’re here,” said Mr Rockliff.
“It’s also the first time a summer season in Tasmania has recorded over $1 billion in visitor spend for a December to February period, which is a fantastic result for local businesses over this important period.”
The state’s next major winter tourist magnet is the Festival of Voices starting in Hobart on Friday June 30.
