Rockhampton has solidified its status as the Visitation Capital of Central Queensland, with newly released figures from Tourism Research Australia showing record-breaking visitation for the year ending June 2024.
Rockhampton Local Government Area again bucked the trend of downward changes in many regions across the state, being the only among Southern Great Barrier Reef (SGBR) to see year-on-year growth in number of Domestic Visitors (648,000 +21.6%) and Visitor Nights (1,903,000 +29.6%), and International Visitors (28,000 +33.4). Visitor Expenditure within our tourism region, Rockhampton and Livingstone combined, jumped by 19.9%, to $731 Million, with each domestic visitor spending $878.
SGBR Domestic Visitation for year ending June 2024
SGBR Councils |
Visitors |
Annual Change |
Visitor Nights |
Annual Change |
Rockhampton |
648,000 |
+21.6% |
1,903,000 |
+29.6% |
Livingstone |
242,000 |
-18.3% |
777,000 |
-40.5% |
Gladstone |
453,000 |
-19.0% |
1,437,000 |
-30.3% |
North Burnett |
Np |
Np |
Np |
Np |
Bundaberg |
585,000 |
+0.3% |
1,967,000 |
-7.2% |
SGBR International Visitation for year ending June 2024
SGBR Councils |
Visitors |
Annual Change |
Visitor Nights |
Annual Change |
Rockhampton |
28,000 |
+33.4% |
256,000 |
+23.2% |
Livingstone |
9,000 |
-21.1% |
63,000 |
-31.2% |
Gladstone |
33,000 |
+9.2% |
187,000 |
+24.6% |
North Burnett |
Np |
Np |
Np |
Np |
Bundaberg |
23,000 |
-21.7% |
483,000 |
-28.5% |
Source: Tourism Research Australia | Np: not publishable
Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said the outstanding results were a testament to the city's appeal and the commitment of Council to supporting local business and jobs through the visitor economy.
"These figures confirm what we've long known - Rockhampton is the heart of Central Queensland tourism," Mayor Williams said.
"Our many tourism experiences, from the Rockhampton Museum of Art and Zoo to our major events, continue to draw visitors from across Australia and beyond."
This exceptional growth comes on the heels of the region delivering record-breaking major events across the period including Beef2024, Rockynats, Rockhampton River Festival, CapriCon, and Rocky River Run, as well as receiving Gold in the Destination Marketing category in the most recent Queensland Tourism Awards.
Advance Rockhampton Tourism and Events Manager Zac Garven attributed the success to a collaborative approach and award-winning innovative marketing.
"Our team has worked tirelessly to engage with local operators, attract high-profile ambassadors, and collaborate closely with state and national organisations like Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council," Mr Garven said.
"The trend of visiting regional has never been stronger, and Rockhampton is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this momentum. We're not just welcoming visitors; we're providing them with unforgettable experiences that showcase the best of our region."
Looking ahead, Council through its economic development and tourism and events arm, Advance Rockhampton, has set ambitious targets for the coming year, including:
- Growing trade-ready products
- Enhancing online bookability for travel agents
- Focusing on accessible tourism initiatives
- Collaborating on drive campaigns
- Continuing to create and share content for diverse audiences
Mayor Williams said Council was committed to building on this year's success.
"Our goal is to not only maintain our position as the Visitation Capital of Central Queensland but to set new benchmarks for regional tourism across Australia," Mayor Williams said.
Rockhampton Regional Council and Advance Rockhampton extend their gratitude to local tourism operators for their exceptional work in welcoming visitors and contributing to the region's success.
Advance Rockhampton is the Economic Development arm of Rockhampton Regional Council and is the region's lead tourism, marketing and major events agency. Southern Great Barrier Reef is the official tourism destination that encompasses Rockhampton, Livingstone, Gladstone, Bundaberg and North Burnett Council boundaries.
