Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Bowen visitor centre team with their Certificate of Accreditation. Photo Supplied: Leanne Abernethy.
The team at Bowen Tourism and Business are celebrating after welcoming a record number of visitors in the past financial year.
A total of 65,638 people visited the Bowen Visitor Information Centre next to the Big Mango in the 12 months to June 30, 2026.
A further 4078 people visited the information booth at Bowen’s Front Beach – taking the total number of visitors to 69,716.
This represents an increase of more than 16% on the year prior.
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy, said the team was very proud of these numbers, particularly given the uncertain economic climate in recent months with raising interest rates and fuel prices and the overseas conflict putting pressure on fuel supply.
“In recent years, we have continued to welcome more visitors each year, but a 16% increase is beyond anyone’s expectations,” Leanne said.
“To welcome an average of more than 1340 people a week is a significant increase on just five years ago when we were welcoming just over 40,000 people per year.
“We have also seen an increase in the number of international visitors coming to Bowen.
“They now make up more than 17% of our total visitors.”
Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery, said the most significant highlight of these numbers was the number of people taking the detour into Bowen, not just calling in between Townsville and Mackay.
“The team welcomed more than 25,000 people on day trips in the past financial year – mainly from Airlie Beach,” Jenn said.
“Of the total number of visitors, more than 17,000 were staying for at least one night in Bowen.
“The total number of visitors has continued to increase in recent years, and the most pleasing statistic is the percentage of people now going into Bowen for a day or more – and that benefits every Bowen business.
“The information centre is conveniently located on the highway but is 5km from Bowen.
“The team do a great job encouraging that Bowen visit and that has resulted in about 62% of all our visitors spending money in the town.
“The number of people making a day trip to Bowen when on holidays in Airlie Beach is on the up and that economic dispersal of visitor spend is important to the regional economy.”
Total visitors at info centre and info booth - 69,716
Weekly average – 1340 people
Total international visitors – 17%
Total visitors spending a day or more in Bowen – 62%
Increase in visitors from last year – 16%
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2026 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
.png)
.png)
