AusLeisure

The value of the visitor economy on the NSW Central Coast surpassed $900 million in 2015 according to the latest figures released by Tourism Research Australia.

The figures, which represent a 25% year on year growth of the region’s visitor economy, have been welcomed by Central Coast Tourism Board Chairman, Sam Panetta.

Commenting on the far reaching benefits of tourism to the region, Panetta explains “the figures compiled relate to direct spend, however other sectors of the economy indirectly reap the rewards of a robust tourism sector including retail, transport, and education.

“Tourism is one of the top five industry sectors on the Coast and for every $72,000 increase in the visitor economy, an equivalent full-time job is created.”

The three main visitor sectors for the region are domestic and international overnight visitors and domestic day trippers, with 1.3 million domestic overnight visitors the highest yielding sector - injecting $567 million in to the local economy, staying an average of three nights.

Numerically, domestic day trippers are the largest visitor sector at 3.5 million visits (contributing $298 million in the local economy), an impressive 17% increase.

The international sector, while smallest in visitor numbers at 45,000, are the longest staying visitors, averaging 20 nights, with the value of this visitor sector growing by a staggering 58% over the last year, contributing $52 million.

Summing up the region’s improved performance, Central Coast Tourism’s Chief Executive Officer Robyne Abernethy concluded “a number of factors, including marketing, industry collaboration, new product and the Australian dollar, have combined to deliver these impressive results.”

Abernethy predicts that Central Coast local visitor economy is on track to reach a key milestone, $1 billion in value by 2020.

Images: TreeTop Adventure Park (top) and an aerial view of Gosford showing the Central Coast Stadium (below).

19th December 2015 - TREETOP CENTRAL COAST ADVENTURE PARK A DUAL WINNER AT THE 2015 NSW TOURISM AWARDS

15th July 2015 - QUESTIONS OVER CHINESE-THEMED VISITOR ATTRACTION ON THE NSW CENTRAL COAST

17th June 2015 - AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK WELCOMES LARGE LITTER OF DINGO PUPS

30th August 2014 - MARINERS OPEN FIRST STAGE OF THEIR CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.