Tourists are flocking to the Big Mango and Bowen Tourist Information Centre, with the iconic gateway to the town proving to be a popular stopping point where motorists are encouraged to venture into Bowen for the day or even longer.
The popularity of the centre has reached new levels this year with record-breaking visitor numbers announced.
Bowen Tourism and Business released figures this week confirming they welcomed more visitors than ever before during the 2023/34 financial year.
This included more than 51,000 at the Bowen Visitor Information Centre next to the Big Mango on the Bruce Highway and a further 5000 visitors at the Information Booth at Bowen’s Front Beach.
Manager of Bowen Tourism and Business, Leanne Abernethy said the new financial year had also started strongly with 7002 visitors in July.
That is an average of 225 visitors every day.
“We became an official Driver Reviver station in recent months so that has also contributed to our high numbers,” she said.
“People certainly appreciate the free tea, coffee and biscuits and we are proud to be contributing to road safety.”
Leanne said more than half of the people who stopped at the Visitor Information Centre spent a day or more in Bowen.
Chair of Bowen Tourism and Business, Jenn Honnery congratulated the Bowen Tourism and Business team on setting yet another record.
“I’m very proud of the team of staff and volunteers at the Big Mango Visitor Information Centre on achieving record visitor numbers once again.”
Bowen Tourism and Business volunteer Pete at the Visitor Information Centre with the Moore family visiting from the UK