Around $2 billion in extra visitor spend a year could be Brisbane’s for the taking with an increased focus on aquatic, coastal and wildlife experiences for tourists.
This is the finding of a major blueprint for the Brisbane region’s visitor economy in the lead up to 2031, which identified key growth leisure market growth segments.
The Visitor Economy 2031 – Vision for the Brisbane Region document highlights the incredible opportunity for the city provided we have sufficient infrastructure in place to service this unmet demand for visitor experiences.
Colmslie Wharves will make a vital contribution to Brisbane achieving this success by providing long-term overnight berthing for marine tourism operators. The project will include 51 new commercial marina berths accommodating vessels up to 35 metres, together with onsite refuelling and provisioning capabilities.
The lack of security around berthing has been a significant impediment to existing operators expanding their services or new entrants coming into the sector so Colmslie Wharves is expected to encourage a larger range of tours and experiences.
Most aquatic tours and experiences range from three to six hours in length, meaning visitors will often need to extend the time they stay in Brisbane.
Analysis by Raptis, utilising the Brisbane Economic Development Agency’s economy.id tool and insights from existing operators, has produced our own estimates of economic activity resulting from the project.
For example, over a 5-year period, Colmslie Wharves is forecast to generate $428.29 million in economic output and $174.37 million in economic value add. It is predicted to result in 109,625 additional visitors to Brisbane per year, each spending an extra $164 per person, or a total of $17.98 million annually.
On the employment front, the project is expected to create 51 full-time equivalent jobs during the construction phase and 337 ongoing jobs per year once operational.
Raptis Investments CEO Tim Beirne said all the research and forecasts showed the Brisbane region was missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars each year due to the current gap in marine tourism offerings.
“The Brisbane River is one of our key tourism assets, which is why the Brisbane City Council’s City Cats are already one of the city’s most popular attractions,” he said.
“We know there is a significantly underserviced portion of the tourist market who would welcome the opportunity to have more river experiences as well as easier access to services that incorporated the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
“Colmslie Wharves will play a major role in meeting this demand and ensuring Brisbane maximises this great economic opportunity that is right in front of us.”
