Tourism Stats Show Whitsundays Spending Surge

Tim Booth, CEO, Tourism Whitsundays, said recent results reinforce that The Whitsundays remains one of Australia's most compelling destinations for both domestic and international travellers. Photo source: Tourism Whitsundays

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Tourism Whitsundays (TW) have released results from the Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey and Domestic Tourism Statistics for the year ending March 2026, confirming $271.8 million in international visitor expenditure, up 27.6% year-on-year, alongside 688,000 domestic overnight visitors.

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Key statistics — year ending March 2026

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International Visitor Survey

• International expenditure: $271.8 million, up 27.6% (record)

• International visitors: 175,000, down 1.7% 

• Visitor nights: 1.3 million, up 15%

• Average length of stay: 7.7 nights, up 1.1 nights

• Spend per visitor night: $202, up 11%

• Spend per visitor: $1,551, up 29.9%

• Continental Europe: 72,000 visitors

• United Kingdom: 41,000 visitors

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Domestic Tourism Statistics

• Total visitor expenditure: $959.1 million, 3% of Queensland total

• Day trip expenditure: $71.4 million, 1% of Queensland total 

• Overnight visitors: 688,000

• Visitor nights: 2.5 million

• VFR visitors: 180,000; VFR expenditure: $164.5 million

• Interstate expenditure: $432 million

• Intrastate expenditure: $455.7 million

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“Record international expenditure, growth in overnight visitation and strong interstate demand all point to a region that is building real momentum,” said CEO of Tourism Whitsundays, Tim Booth.  

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"What makes these numbers especially significant is the context in which they were achieved. Cyclone Koji hit The Whitsundays in January 2026, squarely within this reporting period, and yet the region returned these results. That speaks to the strength of operator confidence, the quality of the experiences on offer and the loyalty of visitors who know The Whitsundays and keep coming back. We are well-positioned for continued growth as we move into the year ahead."

"These figures show visitors are staying longer, spending more and continuing to choose The Whitsundays for the world-class experiences we offer,” said Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins.  

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“That means more support for local businesses, more jobs for locals and greater confidence in our regional economy."

"As the future home of Olympic and Paralympic sailing in 2032, these results reinforce the importance of continuing to invest in the infrastructure and experiences that will support sustainable tourism growth and ensure The Whitsundays remains a destination of choice for visitors from around Australia and around the world."

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