Gold Coast Airport is helping with a tourism revival in Queensland, new figures show.

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Gold Coast Airport is helping with a tourism revival in Queensland, new figures show.

 

Both domestic and international visitors are returning to south-east Queensland with International visitors numbers jumping by 19.3 per cent at Gold Coast Airport, fuelled largely by increased services of low-cost carriers Jetstar and Air Asia plus the domestic market has increased by a solid 7.3 per cent.

 

Brisbane had a moderate rise in passenger numbers last financial year, with a 0.9 per cent increase in international passengers and 2 per cent rise in domestic visitors.

 

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive officer Daniel Gschwind said the figures were a positive sign the sector was recovering.

 

The figures, compiled by the site operator Queensland Airports Limited, also mean Coolangatta has leapfrogged Adelaide to become the fifth busiest airport in Australia,  and Queensland is now the only state to have two airports in the top five, with Brisbane at number three.

 

Mr Gschwind said the solidification of the Gold Coast as an international airport complemented Brisbane airport and was also helping boost the region's visitor numbers.

"The advantage that we have by having a second international airport is phenomenal,"

"It supports all the passengers who want to fly point to point, who want direct access to the Gold Coast and from the Gold Coast." he said.