Data released this week shows encouraging signs for tourism in the region, with numbers of returning visitors returning to pre-pandemic levels and visitor spending increasing by half on 2019 figures.
Victorian Tourism and Events statistics show Geelong and the Bellarine had 6.16 million visitors in the year ending June 2023, more than the previous peak of 5.94m in 2019.
Even more encouraging, tourists spent $1.57 million in the last year, compared to $1.07m in 2019, an increase of 47 per cent.
Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan said the region was a premier tourist destination.
“Greater Geelong has a vast range of quality accommodation providers suiting all budgets in prominent and hidden locations and work continues across the region to ensure future accommodation demands will be met,” Mayor Sullivan said.
“The Spirit of Tasmania and the redeveloped Geelong Arts Centre have opened up a new market of visitors for us and the opening of Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is set to do the same.”
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Tracy Carter said the tourism data was heartening, but her organisation was working hard to ensure local businesses reaped the benefits.
“I think everyone would say we’re bouncing back quicker than was expected now the (COVID-19) shutdowns are all over,” she said.
“Tourism operators are a pretty optimistic bunch, and they’ve adapted and are getting on with things.
“But there are economic factors at play in terms of the visitor spend (figure); the spend is back up, but in terms of the profitability for businesses, it isn’t.”
