APRIL 2021
 

COVID inspires Aussies to enjoy the great outdoors

Cheers! Survey reveals Cairns and Far North Qld as most popular destinations

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CAIRNS and Far North Queensland are the most popular destinations among caravanners and campers, according to a new national survey.

The study by Great Northern Brewing indicated that the tough circumstances brought about by COVID had inspired Australians to get out more and enjoy the great outdoors.

"Almost 60 percent of Australians have rediscovered a passion to explore their own backyard," spokesman Ian Giles said, adding that more and more people are wanting to get back to basics when it comes to holidays.

"Three quarters of Queensland survey respondents said they normally participated in some sort of outdoor recreation activity when not in lockdown, with 20 percent keen to camp or fish," he said.

Top destinations in the survey were:

* Cairns/Far North Qld
* Whitsunday region
* Sunshine Coast/Noosa region
* Uluru/Alice Springs, southern Northern Territory
* Kakadu, Northern Territory
* Gold Coast region
* South Australia
* Central Victoria and High Country
* Northern New South Wales
* Outback Queensland

"The survey shows the tough circumstances of 2020 has inspired Australians to get out more and enjoy the great outdoors," Mr Giles said.

It showed that 44 percent of Queenslanders had spent up to $2000 on outdoor equipment in the past year, and nearly a third of all that expenditure was on camping, fishing and boating.

“Three quarters of Queensland survey respondents said they normally participated in some sort of outdoor recreation activity when not in lockdown, with 20 percent keen to camp or fish."

Mr Giles described the results as "great news" for the Australian tourism and hospitality industry, which has faced unprecedented challenges in the past 12 months including COVID, fires and floods.

"So many of Australia's towns rely heavily on tourism and Great Northern wants to help get people back out spending dollars where it’s needed," he said.

"Great Northern Brewing has been working to drive tourists back to Australia's tourism hotspots since international borders closed.

"We have launched a $26 million giveaway of BCF vouchers to inspire people to get out into the great outdoors.

"Three quarters of survey respondents told us they normally participated in some sort of outdoor recreation activity when not in lockdown so we're confident Australians will use the vouchers to get out and about."

A third of respondents said they wanted to hike and bushwalk more often.

"Camping or caravanning is a great boost to the place where you pitch your tent but along the way travellers stop to buy fuel, pick up groceries, sightsee or enjoy lunch," Mr Giles said.

"It's all the places along the journey, not just the destination that benefits."

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