Worldwide travel insurance customers planning a trip to Queensland may be pleased to hear they could be helping hundreds of thousands of local people.
New figures have revealed around 222,000 Queenslanders rely on tourism for a living.
The state's tourism minister Peter Lawlor said around 122,000 worked directly for the tourism industry, while a further 100,000 were indirectly employed by it.
Just over one in ten local people work in the sector, after the last two years created a further 3,700 tourism-related jobs.
"Tourism is also a very human resource-intensive area and nothing will ever replace the friendly smile and knowledge of a local during a visitor's holiday," said Mr Lawlor.
The money earned by tourism offers benefits even to those not working in the industry, he added, with retailers, farmers, truck drivers and restaurant staff all profiting from the extra custom.
In related news, Queensland is set to be rebranded next year with tourism chiefs marketing four distinct areas: islands and beaches, natural encounters, adventure and lifestyle.
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