International tourism growing
GROWING numbers of US tourists are flocking to Tasmania, according to the most recent visitor statistics.
Tourism Tasmania released figures today showing international holiday expenditure grew 12 per cent last year.
More than 1.32 million people visited the state over the year to September 2019, steady on the corresponding period in the previous year.
Visitation from US tourists grew by 9 per cent while Hong Kong visitors were up 21 per cent. However, Chinese tourists to the state were down 21 per cent.
US TOURISTS are catching on to the state’s “great natural beauty” as Tasmania earnt record dollars from international holiday-goers last year.
Friends Alice Armstrong and Donnan Barnes, both of the US, arrived in Australia last month and said they planned to spend a week in Hobart.
They had four stops listed on their month-long tour of the country and made Tasmania a must-visit destination.
“In the US, Tasmania is perceived as a place of great natural beauty,” Ms Armstrong said.
“The way it was presented to me was that it is the Galápagos Islands of the Pacific region. And it’s true. The flora and fauna and the scenery are beautiful, and the people are wonderful.”
New International Visitor Survey data released today shows the 293,000 total international visitors to Tasmania over the year to September
2019 was a 4 per cent decline from the same period a year prior.
But visitation from US tourists (44,800) grew by 9 per cent.
More than 1.32 million people visited the state over the year to September 2019, steady on the corresponding period in the previous year.
Hong Kong visitors to Tasmania [29,600] also boomed – up 21 per cent — but Chinese tourists to the state decreased by 40,900 or 21 per cent.
Tourism Tasmania Tourism
Snapshot released today said: “Insights indicate that the current climate of declining consumer confidence, geopolitical factors, Brexit and the US/China trade war have impacted travel patterns globally.”
Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald said it was pleasing international holiday expenditure in Tasmania grew 12 per cent last year – a rise he said suggested that “we are attracting visitors who are willing and able to spend more”.
“It’s welcome news that in a competitive national and global marketplace, we are seeing such positive expenditure,” he said.
Outgoing Premier Will Hodgman said the latest tourism figures demonstrated the success of the Government’s strategy to target high-yield international visitors who will spend more in statewide communities.
“While the number of international visitors holidaying in Tasmania remains steady, international holiday expenditure has increased to a record $320 million,” he said.
“Our Government’s strong plan to grow our great tourism industry, and importantly for our visitors to spend more while they are here, is working,” he said.