Queensland's hat-trick of long weekends this month is on track to generate up to $2 billion for the State's tourism operators.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said great deals on Queensland getaways for the third long weekend in-a-row - Labour Day – were still available.
"This Friday afternoon marks the last of Queensland's hat-trick of April long weekends, starting with record travel for Easter," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"Queensland's Labour Day long weekend comes primed with a solid calendar of events from the Gold Coast to Cairns and west to Longreach.
"We're encouraging Queenslanders to explore their own back yard this Labour Day long weekend."
Long weekend events featured on the It's Live! in Queensland events calendar include:
- North Queensland Games (Townsville)
- Road to Rodeo (Longreach)
- AFL Premiership game St. Kilda v Port Adelaide (Cairns)
- Scenic Rim Adventure Festival (Brisbane, Scenic Rim)
- Gold Coast Film Festival (Gold Coast)
- Boyne Tannum Hookup (Gladstone)
- Australian Volleyball Beach Masters (Capricorn)
- Yungaburra Triathlon (Atherton Tablelands, Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region)
- Gold Coast Open (surfing) (Burleigh, Gold Coast)
"Whether its sport, adventure, fishing or film there's a lot to love, see and do in regional Queensland this Labour Day long weekend," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"Events bring visitors who support local jobs and tourism economies across regional Queensland.
"There are always terrific holiday deals to be found on the Queensland.com website, and this weekend is no exception.
"We know there's getaway capacity with accommodation occupancy around 70 per cent in many destinations including the Gold Coast Sunshine Coast and the Tropical North.
"The Whitsundays is set to be a star performer this weekend with good forward bookings nudging 74 per cent.
"Ultiqa hotels and resorts have 15 per cent off two-night stays in Brisbane.
"Brisbane is always a great base for exploring shopping, dining, Moreton Bay Island tours, the South Bank Cultural precinct, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and there's easy access to the iconic theme parks.
"Short break capacity for this coming long weekend is expected to fill, so now's the perfect time to pack a bag, pick and event and find your best deal."
Mr Hinchliffe said during Easter, Brisbane, Cairns and Gold Coast airports all recorded their busiest days for air travel since the start of the Covid pandemic.
"Early indications suggest domestic tourism spending in Queensland during the hat-trick of long weekends in April is expected to peak at around $2 billion," Mr Hinchliffe said.
"It's a good result with Easter visitors to Queensland up 21 per cent on last year.
"Tourism operators also recorded strong booking figures for the ANZAC Day long weekend, which coincided with the end of school holidays in NSW and Victoria.
"Occupancy rates on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and the Whitsundays held at 83 per cent on average through the week with interstate visitors extending Easter breaks into ANZAC Day.
QTIC CEO Daniel Gschwind said Easter had been a game changer for tourism operators.
"The Easter weekend certainly delivered the turnaround and the mood for tourism operators that we had hoped for," Mr Gschwind said.
"The ANZAC weekend and the long weekend ahead of us are giving the industry the boost we need after the struggle we have had over the past two years."
