The region is set for a bumper holiday season, with this Christmas proving to be one of the strongest in several years.
Accommodation providers reported close to full capacity, with promising booking numbers for December and January.
It is a welcome change to previous years, which were plagued with cancelations and COVID-enforced travel restrictions.
The region’s peak tourism body Visit Sunshine Coast confirmed the almost-booked-out season.
VSC CEO Matt Stoeckel said the tourism surge was driven by strong growth in interstate air travel and continuing high demand from the drive market.
“All indicators suggest a bumper holiday season for Sunshine Coast tourism operators, with the prospect of near full capacity extending throughout January,” he said.
“Hotel occupancy statistics are sitting at 90 per cent occupancy for the Christmas/New Year period and then 70 per cent for the week after.
“The airlines have also indicated they are well up on pre-COVID levels.
“With the COVID-19 restrictions out of the way our interstate travellers are well up on where we were this time last year.”
Brett Thompson from Landmark Resort Mooloolaba echoed these statistics and told Sunshine Coast News it gave him “great satisfaction” to see the local tourism industry thriving once again.
“This year – for the Sunshine Coast tourism – has been very strong and the Christmas/New Year (period) is even stronger,” he said.
“We have forward bookings right through to the Australia Day long weekend.
“We are operating at 90 per cent for December and 85 for January, and currently operating at 87 per cent year-to-date.”
Mr Thompson, who is also part of the Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce, said in terms of the Sunshine Coast, Mooloolaba had been a key performer in driving the local tourism industry.
“Mooloolaba in particular has done well and better than the rest of the Sunshine Coast in terms of numbers,” he said.
“Mooloolaba attracts the family drive market out of southeast Queensland.”
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He compared this to other areas, including Noosa, which typically attracted the higher-yield interstate market.
Mr Thompson said the mood of visitors and accommodation providers was high after two hears of “heartache”.
“There has been a lot of heartache over the past few years, especially with cancellations – there have been record cancellations,” he said.
“The mood of the public has improved. Without restrictions people seem to be more happy and there is a lot more vibrancy from the people who come to stay.
“As a Sunshine Coast operator, we are always happy for Christmas and New Year because it is the busiest time of the year.”
Mr Thompson also congratulated VSC for being the “shining light of tourism” during the pandemic and putting the Sunshine Coast on the map.
While tourism is thriving, Mr Stoeckel did note the difficulties local businesses were facing due to staff shortages and rising economic costs.
He has reminded everyone to be patient during the “silly” season.
“It is important to acknowledge while labour supply has improved slightly, shortages of available workers will mean that some businesses can’t maximise the potential of the holiday season,” Mr Stoeckel said.
“This is one area that has been a challenge all year and will be some time before it’s resolved as it is a national issue and not just isolated to the Sunshine Coast.”
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