Queensland beaches top holiday statistics

The latest release from Roy Morgan Research asked the question: Which state has the most popular beaches for holidays across Australia? And Queensland has seen itself on top once again, which could be brilliant news for anyone interested in securing their own commercial property in Surfers Paradise and taking advantage of the increasingly strong tourism industry being seen across the region. 

According to the research, over the 12 months ending July 2014, some 11,567,000 Australians over the age of 14 took at least one domestic holiday. Of these people, 1,671,000 (or 8.7 per cent of the population)  said their outing was at least in part spent on one of Australia's pristine beaches. The data has pointed out that Queensland was the most popular beach destination, with 34.6 per cent of beach goers highlighting their preference for the Sunshine State's oceans. 

Roy Morgan Research Group Account Director Angela Smith said the popularity of beaches comes as no surprise as a big holiday destination. Family-oriented, hard-working people who are very financially aware are more likely to choose a beach location as their travel destination – simply because of the relative cheapness when compared to other, more extravagant travel pursuits. 

Furthermore, these destinations provide the backdrop for quality family time, rather than the potential for getting caught up in tourist-oriented activities in other, overseas locations. This is a major aspect to consider when it comes to domestic travel, with many people simply looking for some time away with their spouse and children rather than a full-blown experience, and Australian beaches are primed to provide just that. 

"Considering our country's vast coastline, it may come as a surprise that only 8.7 per cent of the population travelled to the beach for their last domestic trip. However, when we consider that all but one of Australia's capital cities are on the coast, and nearly 65 per cent of Aussies live in a capital city, this figure makes more sense. You could almost say that life's a beach for some of us!" said Ms Smith in a September 29 statement. 

With the growing popularity of Queensland's beaches as domestic tourist spots, the potential for securing a slice of commercial property in Surfers Paradise and establishing yourself in the local economy could be a wonderful move to make. Furthermore, as the population of the nation continues to grow over the coming decades, these figures can be expected to increase steadily, with more and more people exploring their own country during their holidays. 

Growing push for Chinese visitors

Another aspect of the Queensland tourism industry recently brought to light was the state's plan to push for further marketing initiatives in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Premier Campbell Newman said the campaign would begin after the recent DestinationQ forum with the aim of increasing tourism from these regions – which will help boost the local economy and provide jobs across the sector. 

"Greater China is Queensland's fastest growing international market with incredible potential. The targeted promotional push will help deliver our election commitment to grow the tourism industry as one of the four pillars of the economy," said Mr Newman in a 17 September statement. 

"Growing the number of Greater Chinese visitors will significantly boost overnight visitor expenditure and will help to create jobs now and in the future." 

Since 2012, Queensland has seen a 29 per cent increase in the number of Chinese visitors to the state – an impressive growth over the last two years. These plans aim to push this figure up further, providing new incentives for tourism growth and aiding the overall strength of the state's burgeoning economy. 

With these plans coming to fruition in the near future, considering commercial real estate in Surfers Paradise could be a great move to look into. Get in touch with a local real estate agent to discuss the opportunities open to you.