Pressure on tourism industry in Australia's north
Updated
![Queensland, home of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, has experienced a recent decline in both overseas and domestic tourists. [Reuters]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/aus_barrierreef_rtr_020603.jpg?<BR> "Queensland, home of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, has experienced a recent decline in both overseas and domestic tourists. [Reuters]")
Queensland, home of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, has experienced a recent decline in both overseas and domestic tourists. [Reuters]
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council says the high Australian dollar and increased fuel prices have taken a big toll on the domestic tourism market.
The number of local tourists dropped by about three percent in the last financial year.
It follows a similar decline in international visitors.
Daniel Gschwind says there are signs of some relief in the future.
"We have better exchange rate for exporters and a better incentive to stay in Australia from an exchange rate point of view," Mr Gschwind said.
"Also the pressure on petrol price increases has come off somewhat, the pressure on interest rates has come off somewhat so we certainly hope that consumers have more confidence to travel."
