Royal visit was good for business! Results show a healthy increase in interest from the UK in Australian destinations.
The recent royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to New Zealand and Australia has had a significantly positive effect on tourism.
According to information released by the hotel search website trivago.co.uk Wellington saw the largest increase in on-line accommodation searches escalating by 169 percent. While New Zealand had the biggest overall increase in hotel searches Australia saw a healthy 32 percent increase in interest too.
Between 16 and 25 April William and Kate visited Adelaide, Brisbane, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Canberra and Sydney resulting in as much as a 23 percent increase in on-line interest in accommodation for these destinations and a 32 percent overall increase in interest for all of Australia. Sydney was most popular with an 11% increase in searches compared to the weekend before the royal visit.
Searches specifically for destination on William and Kate’s itinerary increased by 23 percent during their visit but interestingly interest in all of Australia increased by 32 percent — an indication that the royal couple’s visit had a positive influence on Australian tourism.
Denise Bartlett of Public Relations UK attributed the rise in international interest to increased media coverage of the country prior to, and during, the Duke and Duchess’ visit: “It’s great for tourism in both New Zealand and Australia to see a significant increase in hotel searches from the UK following Kate and William’s visit. It is also interesting to note that searches to Australia were not limited to destinations on Kate and William’s itinerary, but applied to the whole country. Australian and New Zealand hoteliers should be encouraged by this increase in travel interest from the UK.”