'Best Job' campaign is working

An increase in visitor numbers from the UK and Europe, particularly the under 30s, is being taken as a sign the highly awarded Best Job in The World campaign is working.

Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor says Tourism Research Australia's International Visitor Survey for the year ended March 2010 revealed visits to Queensland by young travellers from the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands all increased at a higher rate than the national average.

"Many of these markets have been hit hard by the global financial crisis, so this is good news for Queensland that our overseas markets are showing signs of recovery," Mr Lawlor said.

Queensland's key UK market increased one per cent to 249,000 visitors over the year to March 2010, underpinned by the increase from the youth market.

The Brits stayed longer and spent $475 million on their trips to Queensland, an increase of three per cent over the year.

Around 153,000 Chinese visitors spent 2.5 million nights in Queensland, and spent $326 million in the year ended March 2010, up $87 million or 36 per cent, on the year before.

"The recent announcement by China Southern airlines that it will fly direct from Guangzhou to Queensland from the end of this year should help grow these figures even more," Mr Lawlor said.

Overall travellers to Queensland stayed longer as visitor nights increased three per cent to 40 million nights with total international expenditure steady at just under $4 billion.

AAP