Planning Report IDAS Forms Cover letter, Owner's consent, Appendices 2- PLM minutes & 3 - Economic Needs - Email 1 of 4 MCU16/0153 & REC16/0041

Short-break visitors to the Sunshine Coast Tourism Region are defined as those that can typically
reach their destination within 2-hours of travel (by air or driving) and stay for between one and
three days. This market has been driven by increasing access to low cost airfares, modest foreign
exchange rates and socio-economic issues such as dual-working households with higher incomes
but decreasing free time for extended holidays. Being within a 2-hour drive from Brisbane and
accessible from most population centres on Australia’s east coast by air; the Sunshine Coast is
ideally positioned to meet the needs of short-break visitors.

4.3    DEMAND FOR SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION

Urban Economics has determined that overall, demand for short-term accommodation across
the Sunshine Coast Tourism Region is being met; however, the existing supply of facilities in the
Region has not adjusted sufficiently to meet the needs of visitor markets, outside of family
holiday makers. This is reflected in the occupancy rates of facilities which are dominated by
serviced apartments, and is particularly apparent within Peregian Beach which is dominated by
serviced apartment and holiday home accommodation.

Whilst short-term accommodation occupancy rates across Queensland have declined following
the peak in resource sector activity, the Sunshine Coast has recently reversed this trend,
suggesting a turnaround in domestic tourism and overnight visitation.

The Sunshine Coast Tourism Region Destination Tourism Plan 2013-2020 summarises visitor
projections for the Region based on data for Queensland provided by Tourism Research Australia
(TRA). The Plan forecasts that the SCTR will experience an increase in visitor nights of 1.6% per
annum between 2013 and 2020 with commercial accommodation facilities having an occupancy
rate of approximately 63% as illustrated in FIGURE 4.4.




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