Central Queensland’s mining-heavy region had the best occupancy rates in hotels, motels and serviced apartments of all regional areas in the state in the September quarter last year.
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last week reveals Mackay had the top occupancy rate of all regional Queensland destinations, with 78.6% of all rooms booked out during the quarter.
But the mining-heavy coastal city was only beaten by Brisbane, which had 81% of all rooms booked during the September quarter last year.
Close on Mackay’s coat-tails was the wider Central Queensland – including Rockhampton and surrounds – with occupancy of 72.3%.
Other regions with a high occupancy rate over the period included the northern and far north regions, with occupancy rates of 71% and 72.5% respectively.
In the Sunshine Coast, the occupancy hit 58.6% for the quarter, but was surpassed by its southern tourism competitor the Gold Coast, with a 69.4% rate of occupancy.
Other coastal destinations included Bundaberg, with an occupancy rate of 64.2%, the Fraser Coast at 53.2%and the Whitsunday’s, at 59.1%.
Inland, the stand-out region was the Darling Downs, with 69.2% of all rooms booked out during the September quarter, while the far inland “outback” region had 70.2% of all rooms booked out.
Overall, Queensland rooms in 72.3% of hotels and resorts were booked out; and 70.4% of motels and serviced apartments were booked out in the quarter.
The average state-wide quarterly occupancy rate was 71% between the start of July and end of September last year.
TOURISM OCCUPANCY
- Brisbane: 81%
- Mackay: 78.6%
- Tropical North Qld: 72.5%
- Central Qld: 72.3%
- North Qld: 71%
- Queensland: 71%
- Outback Qld: 70.2%
- Gold Coast: 69.4%
- Darling Downs: 69.2%
- Bundaberg: 64.2%
- Whitsunday’s: 59.1%
- Sunshine Coast: 58.6%
- Fraser Coast: 53.2%
ABS, September quarter, 2012
(Source: The Chronicle, 16 January 2013)