Australians have flocked to their favourite seaside towns during the holiday break and pushed up the average tourism spend in major hotspots by 130 per cent.
Hotels, pubs and servos all benefited from peak holiday trade across Christmas and new year based on analysis of National Australia Bank payments figures.
Noosa, a popular getaway spot on the Sunshine Coast, was among the 17 fan favourites, with a 131 per cent jump in accommodation spending.
The famous town remains one of the country’s top summer destinations, with its picturesque beach, Hastings Street shopping strip, national park access and river activities.
It’s also a renowned surf break.
Jervis Bay, a coastal town three hours south of Sydney, was another favourite summer location.
The NSW tourism hotspot experienced the strongest spike in money splashed in restaurants and bars – up 300 per cent.
South Australian seaside gem Robe logged the biggest jump in accommodation spend, up 714 per cent compared to normal trade.
In Lakes Entrance, a beach town in Victoria’s east, money sunk into hotels, motels and caravan parks soared 242 per cent during the fortnight starting December 21.
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Service stations in Busselton in Western Australia clocked the biggest jump – up 572 per cent – as Australians hit the road for the holidays.
Nerida Baker, who operates the only food and beverage outlet at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, observed a lot of activity during Schoolies celebrations that “just seemed to stay busy through to Christmas”.
“We always plan ahead for this busy period; we streamline procedures and hire more staff, especially casuals and juniors who might be on school or uni holidays, and my husband Jake and I dive back in to help the team,” the Beach Grill and Salt Bar operator said.
NAB business direct and small business executive Krissie Jones said local economies often relied on the summer holiday spending injection.
“The data also points to the continued popularity of holidaying at home as Australians make thoughtful spending decisions to manage the higher cost of living and avoid a recent dip in overseas exchange rates,” she said.
Three-quarters of the 2011 Australians surveyed on behalf of the Tourism and Transport Forum ahead of the holidays said they would be staying in the town they lived in for New Year’s Eve.
Another 13 per cent said they would be staying in their own state, while eight per cent said they would head interstate.
Other tourism hotspots identified by NAB included NSW’s Merimbula, Batemans Bay and Byron Bay, Queensland’s Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, and the Victorian towns of Lorne and Rye.
Western Australia’s Margaret River, the Tasmanian towns of Swansea and St Helens, and South Australia’s Kingscote and Victor Harbor also featured.
