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MORE Australian holidaymakers are opting to explore their own backyard and Queensland is reaping the benefits, recording its highest year of domestic travel since 1999.
The state notched 19.1 million visits this past financial year, increasing 6 per cent or almost half a million more visitors than the year before, new figures state.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Kate Jones says the figures contained in Tourism Research Australia's latest National Visitor Survey represent a milestone for Queensland.
"The release of today's tourism data builds on recent growth in international travel with total travel to Queensland during the financial year reaching 21.3 million visitors, an increase of 6 per cent," Jones says.
"Visitors to Queensland spent $18.3 billion on their visits, up 3 per cent.
"Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) are working in partnership with industry and regional tourism organisations on a series of destination marketing campaigns to increase travel throughout the state.
"Business-related travel also provided a boost for operators with the number of travellers increasing 28 per cent to 4.4 million during the financial year.
"The number of Queenslanders travelling within the state increased 8 per cent to 13.7 million trips."
Jones says the DestinationQ forum is almost ready to start, aiming to form new innovative tourism ideas for the state.
"We are now 22 days away from the DestinationQ forum that will bring together up to 400 industry and government leaders," she says.
"The forum will draw on new research about what visitors want from Queensland, with experienced speakers focusing industry and government on how Queensland will deliver on consumer expectations.
"The State Budget included a $400 million investment in tourism and $100 million to protect Queensland's iconic Great Barrier Reef."
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