US market shows strength

THE number of Australians returning from the US lifted sharply during Apr, with the latest arrival statistics showing the strongest levels of travel in almost 18 months.

Seasonally adjusted figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released yesterday show 93,300 Australians returned from a short-term visit to the US during Apr, up from 89,200 in Mar.

The figure is the highest level since Nov 2016 when 95,800 residents returned from the US and is the strongest month since the start of the Trump presidency and the so-called “Trump slump” that has impacted other markets.

Overall, 923,400 Australian residents came back from a short-term overseas trip in Apr, an increase of 1.3% over the previous month in seasonally adjusted terms.

Among other destinations, Japan reached a new high with 37,900 Australians returning during Apr, up from 37,800 the previous month and 34,100 in Apr last year.

Indonesia reached a new peak of 108,100 returns in Apr, up from 105,900 in Mar and 100,800 in Apr last year.

The UK was also on a high ahead of the Royal wedding, hitting a new monthly record of 55,900 Australian returns.

Other destinations showing strong results in Apr included France (13,200) - its second busiest month since the 2015 terror attacks - and Italy (21,400).