A VIRTUAL online tourism website is set to do more than put the Gold Coast back on the map.

The website will allow domestic and international travellers to research, plan and book an Australian holiday from the one site. It allows free access to more than 500 location-specific video clips, 10,000 photos, and around 24,000 listings for accommodation, attractions and
events across Australia's 69 official tourism regions.

More than 1200 Australian locations- including 14 on the Gold Coast - are profiled on the www.pleasetakemeto.com site. Small Business and Tourism Minister Fran Bailey says the industry can expect a major boost as a result of the website.

"This initiative will encourage domestic travellers to holiday in and explore their own country," she says.

"The site uses an exceptional video and photography archive to motivate and excite Australians about what some of our country's great holiday regions have to offer. I encourage Australians to visit this great new site which provides the tools for travellers to plan and book their next great Australian holiday."

Brisbane-based multimedia agency Tourism Media, which has experience in film, web CD and DVD-based productions, has been developing the site for the past four years. Tourism Media communications director Todd Levi says the site has benefited from the support of Tourism Australia and every state tourism office, including Tourism Queensland.

"We have received terrific support from all levels of government and private industry. All share our belief there is nothing else on the market that provides such an extraordinary picture," he says.

"The site's advantage is it promotes regions first, rather than just rooms. Once the user has selected a destination, they can easily preview attractions, accommodation, activities and events in that region, then use a convenient search tool to book their holiday or make a request for more information.

"Site visitors can fly over Surfers Paradise or stroll through the lush greenery of Mount Tamborine with the click of a mouse. As more people discover the rich beauty of the Coast and Australia from the convenience of their home or office, we expect the number of tourists to increase dramatically," says Mr Levi.

The site comes online as new research shows international visitors are spending more time and money on the Gold Coast.

A State Government International Visitor Survey shows spending up $23 million (3.2 per cent) in the year ending March 2007. State Tourism Minister Margaret Keech says that takes the total international visitor expenditure for the region to more than $747 million.

"Overall, 830,000 international tourists visited the Coast, spending 7,226,700 visitor nights. New Zealand visitors increased by 5.2 per cent and accounted for 25 per cent of all international visitors."

Mrs Keech says the Coast receives good economic returns from the emerging markets of India, China and Korea.

"This has ensured results for the Gold Coast have been positive. Even with a softening Japanese market - affected by the strengthening of the Australian dollar and aviation issues - the Gold Coast continues to hold its own," she says.