TROPICAL North Queensland's exposure to the growing German market is expected to receive a major boost with 150 German travel agents visiting this week as part of one of the largest familiarisation tours to take place in the region.
The agents are spending four days in the Far North as part of a 10-day Queensland trip.
They are all associated with Germany’s leading tour wholesaler Dertour and were chosen from 10,500 travel agencies in Germany and Austria.
The mega-famil has been organised by Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Tourism Australia and Qantas and involves destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, Great Tropical Drive and Great Sunshine Way.
"Germans are one of the most important international markets for this region as they stay longer, travel further afield and spend more than the average international visitor," Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said.
"Last year, 74,000 Germans visited Queensland, stayed an average 25 nights and spent around $1900 each.
"Of these, 47,000 visited the Tropical North."
Ms Boyle said Germans were also more likely than the average international traveller to visit beaches and national parks during their stay.
They were also keen to take part in soft adventure activities and explore a destination independently.
