The Tourism Research Australia team has released their most recent data (for the 2008-2009 period) records show NSW leading the pack with 7.2 million domestic visitors, followed by Victoria with 5.4 million and Queensland with 5.1 million. These records show a dramatic change in the Australian travellers taste. For years Queensland has rated higher than Victoria, but clearly, change is in the air.
Victoria tourist executives believe that during these tough economic climate people prefer to experience Victoria's cultural activities and lifestyle over Queensland's physical attractions and showy attitude.
Melbourne offers some of the biggest events and festivals of the year, with Australia's best fashion, culture and music scene. This is being considered more attractive to the tourists over the gold coasts theme parks and giant pineapple.
And it's not only the big festivals that are getting the attention from the tourists, the museum got a record number of visits for its Salvador Dali exhibition and the musicals Wicked and Jersey Boys have brought huge domestic tourists in from the other capital cities.
So, perhaps this really is a more intellectual and cultural shift in Australian domestic tourism? Or, is it just that we have all had enough of the roller coasters that we visited every summer in the past? My guess is, only time will tell.
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