Recent surveys have shown that a new type of backpacker has landed in North Queensland. These visitors are choosing to visit the region purely for holidays rather than as a working holiday destination. They are booking their airfares, turning up and then making their accommodation and tour bookings once they arrive. As a group backpackers are spending less time in Australia according to Stephen Welsh, the president for the Tropical North Backpackers and Hostel Association. As a whole the tourism industry is not as segmented as it used to be.
Information is much more accessible and as a whole people are more experienced at travelling.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park expanded Waters at the mouths of rivers and ports along the Queensland coast are expected to come under the banner of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park later this year. This move by the State Government is a positive step to recognising that the greatest risk to the marine parks comes from land based pollution. By having more stringent controls on coastal waterways the overall potential risk of pollution should be decreased significantly. Whilst the factors that are contributing to this growth are not clear it is believed to be a mix of tougher economical times in Japan which tend to force people to holiday in shorter haul destination such as Australia. The weaker Australian dollar is also a contributing factor and one that results in Australia being an excellent holiday destination with regards to buying power.