By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council received a report detailing visitor numbers to the region at last week’s ordinary council meeting.
The report detailed numbers to the visitor information centres in both Stanthorpe and Warwick.
The report stated that the winter period for Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt was busy and most accommodation places were at 90 per cent occupancy.
August saw the Brisbane lockdown and the numbers coming to the region fell by half.
The Granite Belt was busy during September, especially with the school holidays and operators reported good numbers.
Some wineries are again sold out of wine and are closed until April/May 2022. The vintage for 2022 is looking very good with vines heavy in fruit.
Stanthorpe has been the host to some new events with the inaugural Berry Festival and Kick On Stanthorpe entertaining more than 1000 people at each event.
The report stated that the Stanthorpe Christmas Market Day “saw many CBD shops and the Victoria Street market stallholders having very good sales figures for the morning”.
The Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre reportedly had a lot of enquiries around what is open for Christmas lunch and opening days and times for local businesses during the festive season.
The Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre saw a total of 24,759 visitors in 2021, compared to 19,513 in 2020 and 18,463 in 2019.
Between 2014 and 2018, the Stanthorpe Visitor Information Centre saw an average of 23,958 visitors per year.
The report stated that coming out of the peak tourism season, the Warwick Visitor Information Centre has had reduced visitation in the August to December period.
Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions occurring in South East Queensland and New South Wales have impacted visitation numbers. The majority of visitation has been from South East Queensland.
Events have assisted with visitation to the region with Historic Leyburn Sprints, Warwick Rodeo and Campdraft as well as Morgan Park events being held during this period.
The Sunflower season re-commencing has also brought visitors from across south-east Queensland.
A variance of accommodation occupancy during this period of between 50 per cent and 100 per cent, mostly due to events occurring.
The Warwick Visitor Information Centre saw a total of 13,149 visitors in 2021, compared to 9061 in 2020 and 15,904 in 2019.
Between 2014 and 2018, the Warwick Visitor Information Centre saw an average of 15,823 visitors per year.
The motion was moved by Councillor Andrew Gale and seconded by Councillor Cynthia McDonald.
