Skip to content

Tourism investment attraction

Queensland is a premier tourism destination with world-renowned natural wonders which attract millions of visitors each year. We are perfectly positioned on Asia's doorstep and primed for continued growth, which makes this a great time to invest.

Attracting investment

Queensland offers investors a wealth of opportunities to invest in tourism accommodation and attractions across the state, due to our:

  • resilient and diverse economy
  • strong collaboration between industry and government
  • iconic tourism offering, spanning city, beach, island, reef and outback destinations
  • supportive business environment.

Investing in Queensland tourism video

We encourage investment to revitalise existing tourism assets and create new tourism infrastructure across the state.

We assist investors throughout the investment and development process, with support extended to:

  • A coordinated tourism investment approach: assisting investors and developers of tourism infrastructure to navigate their way through government and streamline the development process.
  • Market and investment information: provides investors with economic and tourism data to help inform investment decisions.
  • Tourism investment events: global delivery of targeted tourism investment attraction initiatives to showcase Queensland as a tourism investment destination and attract capital for tourism developments.

Queensland

Cover page of the Queensland investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Queensland investment snapshot.

Queensland is Australia’s original holiday state and boasts some of the most amazing natural attractions on earth. It’s where 180 million-year-old rainforests meet the Great Barrier Reef, it’s where hundreds of breathtaking islands are scattered amongst a pristine ocean, and where the world’s two oldest living cultures mix with modern, global cities and the open expanse of the stunning Outback.

Australians’ great love for short breaks and family holidays underpin a strong domestic visitor market, whilst its global accessibility, stable institutions and proximity to expanding Asian markets make Queensland the perfect place to do business.

With Brisbane declared the host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Queensland is expected to benefit from a two-decade pipeline of opportunity, including significant economic and community benefits across the state such as accelerated infrastructure development, trade opportunities and a boost to international tourism spend.

Gold Coast

Cover page of the Gold Coast investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Gold Coast investment snapshot.

Where golden beaches meet sub-tropical rainforest, and high-thrill rollercoasters meet relaxing by the pool, the Gold Coast is one of Australia’s longest standing and best-established tourist destinations.

The Gold Coast stretches over 57 kilometres of uninterrupted beaches with a number of urban hubs, each offering their own feel and flavour, as well as national parks and extensive waterways – the perfect complement to its soaring towers and bright lights.

The variety in the Gold Coast’s sights and sounds have allowed for a diverse accommodation market, including world-class luxury branded hotels, boutique coastal chic motels, and cosy mountain retreats.

Less than two hours by car or train for over 3.8 million South East Queensland residents, and with great connections to Asia and beyond via Gold Coast and Brisbane International Airports, the region is perfectly positioned for its role as a regional host of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brisbane

Cover page of the Brisbane investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Brisbane investment snapshot.

As Queensland’s capital, Brisbane offers the powerful mix of business and leisure with a thriving economy and healthy investment pipeline, making the city a world-class place to invest, do business, study or visit.

Brisbane is a dynamic and multicultural river city with strong infrastructure. The region offers a range of entertainment and cultural experiences with an active events calendar to rival major cities around the world. Beyond the Brisbane capital, there are diverse landscapes all within a one-hour drive, from mountains and valleys, bays and islands, and everything in between.

As the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane is expected to experience a two-decade pipeline of opportunity, benefiting communities, sporting organisations, local business and the visitor economy, making the region perfect for new tourism investment.

Sunshine Coast

Cover page of the Sunshine Coast investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Sunshine Coast investment snapshot.

The Sunshine Coast is perfect for its breathtaking beaches, stunning hinterland and natural wonders, surrounded by a collection of bustling towns and villages and a rapidly growing city.

Just a short drive from Brisbane, and accessible by air via its own Airport at Maroochydore, the region has long been a favourite holiday destination for Australian families. International visitation is also set to grow with the opening of a new international runway in 2020.

Major new investment in critical infrastructure is underway focused on digital connectivity, transport, health and knowledge hubs as well as smart, connected commercial and residential communities across the region.

In addition, the region will play a significant part of the state’s role as host of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping drive demand for an additional 1,800 hotel rooms across a mix of business and leisure focused markets to meet forecast demand over the next decade.

Outback and Southern Queensland Country

Cover page of the Outback and Southern Queensland Country investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Outback and Southern Queensland Country investment snapshot.

The Outback and Southern Queensland Country regions epitomise the timeless grandeur of Australia. Home to a network of rural communities and charming small towns, and linked by a well-developed road network and established travel routes, their expansive terrains have much to offer tourists and investors alike.

The Outback is a rugged terrain where you’ll find starry skies, gemstones, wildlife, archaeological sites and rich Indigenous history. In contrast, Southern Queensland Country is a region of heritage pubs and homesteads set amongst beautiful farmland, orchards and seasonal landscapes.

With strong growth in drive tourism holidays, combined with recent investment in a string of new and upgraded attractions, there is now opportunity to capitalise on renewed demand by providing new accommodation experiences that play to the regions’ natural strengths.

Fraser Coast

Cover page of the Fraser Coast investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Fraser Coast investment snapshot.

Just a three-hour drive from Brisbane and in close proximity to the Sunshine Coast, the Fraser Coast is well connected to South East Queensland’s major cities, and easily accessible by road, rail or air, via Hervey Bay airport.

The region boasts world class marine activities centred around the World Heritage Listed island K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), creating the perfect place for whale watching, fishing and diving and exploring natural wonders.

The Hervey Bay CBD renewal project and new Marine Experience and Research Centre are two key projects driving tourism demand and providing opportunity for new investment – particularly for upscale family friendly mainland accommodation.

Southern Great Barrier Reef

Cover page of the Southern Great Barrier Reef investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Southern Great Barrier Reef investment snapshot.

The Southern Great Barrier Reef region is a microcosm of Queensland, taking in the Bundaberg, Gladstone and Capricorn tourism regions.

Much more than just the Reef, the region boasts superb attractions including regional towns with iconic pubs, farm stays, seaside getaways, pristine islands and sandstone gorges – linked by a well-developed road network through stunning scenery.

Whilst investment in infrastructure is supporting growth in visitor numbers and the economy by targeting key demand drivers, the region sees demand for new boutique accommodation, ecotourism and agri-tourism opportunities that play to the region’s strengths.

Mackay and Whitsunday

Cover page of the Mackay and Whitsunday investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Mackay and Whitsunday investment snapshot.

The Whitsunday region is made up of 74 island wonders, located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. Regional hubs at Proserpine, Bowen and Airlie Beach are an eclectic mix of friendly country and coastal towns, supported by agriculture and tourism.

Meanwhile, further south, the Pioneer Valley and Eungella Hinterland – the largest stretch of sub-tropical rainforest in Australia – are tourist attractors still largely untapped for tourism product development.

For those looking to invest in a thriving regional hub, Mackay provides significant opportunity for investment, with projects like the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area driving urban renewal, and sure to spark future investment opportunities.

Townsville North Queensland

Cover page of the Townsville North Queensland investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Townsville North Queensland investment snapshot.

Townsville North Queensland has the rainforest, the reef, and everything in between. The region is recognised as the commercial centre of northern Australia, with visitors immersed in a wide range of leisure, education, business and cultural experiences.

New and additional flights from key domestic destinations across the country, along with a year-round calendar of events and a host of visitor attractions, is making Townsville more popular and accessible than ever before.

Natural attractions including Magnetic Island, the Great Barrier Reef, Castle Hill and magnificent hinterland make Townsville perfectly positioned to continue its tourism development to cater to the growing adventure tourism market.

Tropical North Queensland

Cover page of the Tropical North Queensland investment snapshot. © Queensland Government
Tropical North Queensland investment snapshot.

From Cassowary Coast in the south, to the Torres Strait in the north, and extending west to the Gulf Savannah and Outback, Tropical North Queensland is a region of incredible natural and cultural wonders. At the heart of this region is Cairns, a vibrant and diverse city that continues to evolve.

Tropical North Queensland has long had a thriving tourism industry, supported by its close proximity to Asia. A strong upscale hotel market is underpinned by the region’s prominence as an international leisure destination, and popularity with domestic visitors looking for a warm winter-break in the tropical north.

Recent economic and industry-boosting investment from both the private and public sectors is helping to expand opportunities that will attract an even greater number of visitors, making the region perfect for tourism investment.

Last updated: 14 Jul 2023