Brisbane and the Gold Coast have launched dedicated trade representation in India to help drive visitation and accelerate Queensland’s visitor economy. Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA), Brisbane Airport and Experience Gold Coast have appointed an in-market representative to convert rising demand into visitation.
India is one of Australia’s top five international visitor markets, with Queensland welcoming 77,000 Indian visitors in the year ending September 2025*, who spent $238.9m. Brisbane saw 46,000 arrivals, up 0.4% year-on-year, while Gold Coast welcomed 25,000 Indian visitors, up 35% year-on-year.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “India is one of the fastest-growing travel markets in the world, and we want Brisbane to be top of mind for Indian travellers looking to experience Australia’s lifestyle capital.
“Tourism is a huge part of our economy, bringing in AUD$13.7bn in visitor spending and supporting thousands of local jobs across our lifestyle precincts, tourism businesses, hotels, restaurants and more. “This partnership is about working together with the Gold Coast to bring more visitors to South East Queensland, support local jobs and keep Brisbane’s visitor economy strong.”
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff notes the airport is serviced by several airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, VietJet and Cathay Pacific, who provide connectivity into India. “With Malaysia Airlines now also flying to Brisbane five times a week, and offering seamless connection to 10 major Indian cities, Queensland is more accessible to Indian travellers than ever before,” he said.
“Combined with our dedicated trade representation in India, we’re sending a clear message that Queensland is ready and waiting for Indian travellers to explore all that South East Queensland has to offer.”
Horus Development and Consulting, already representing Brisbane across South-East Asia, will lead trade engagement, marketing and PR in India and the programme will be led by Ratna Rai (pictured), Horus’ account manager for India.
Benoit Badufle, Horus MD said the expanded partnership marked a strategic opportunity. “We are thrilled to extend our work with BEDA into the Indian market…India represents a vibrant and rapidly growing segment of travellers seeking distinctive city experiences. Our goal is to ensure Brisbane is top-of-mind for Indian travel trade and consumers alike, highlighting the city’s thriving cultural scene, natural beauty, and unique experiences.”
Discover more about Brisbane: https://visit.brisbane.qld.au/
Discover more about the Gold Coast: https://experiencegoldcoast.com/
*Tourism Research Australia data for year ending September 2025 (latest available).