More Aussies are heading to Cairns and Tropical North for their holidays Image source Cairns.fm

Despite the recent increase in Aussies heading overseas for their holidays, a study has found a large number of Australians are choosing to holiday in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland.

According to the National Visitor Survey (NVS) for the year ending 2011 the region enjoyed an 11 percent increase in domestic visitor numbers year on year, while numbers elsewhere in Australia remained stagnant and domestic visitation to Queensland fell six percent.

The welcomed increase in domestic visitor numbers provides an additional $113 million into the region’s economy for the year.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Rob Giason said tourism operators in the region have been working hard on product and service to compete with popular offshore markets.

"The region has real recognition and appeal in the Australian market, and the local tourism industry has invested in major product refurbishment and in social media to connect with the consumers, Mr Giason said.

“We have also worked to diversify our tourism product offering beyond leisure tourism to sports and events tourism which has strengthened our industry and been a factor in achieving this result."