Record visitor numbers

INTERNATIONAL visitor numbers are at record highs, data released today from Tourism Research Australia reveals.

Figures from the latest International Visitor Survey results for the 12 months to the end of Jun 2019, showed 8.6 million overseas visitors came to Australia in 2018/19, up 3% on the previous year.

The survey revealed that international visitor spend reached record levels, up 5% to $44.6 billion, with close to four million holiday-makers who visited Australia in 2018/19 contributing $16.9 billion to the economy, followed by those in the country for education ($12.7 billion, up 8% on the previous corresponding period).

Key contributors to the growth in spending were food, drink and accommodation (up 6% to $13.4 billion), while airfares and education were also significant sources of spending (both up 8% to $10.1 billion and $6.8 billion).

The average duration of an international visitor’s stay has shrunk from 32 nights in 2012/13 to 26 nights, however, the average spend per night has climbed 26% to $163 for the same period.

At a state and territory level, the Northern Territory and Victoria saw the highest percentage growth in international visitor numbers (up 4%), while Tasmania was the only state to see a decline in tourists (down 2%).

The NT had the biggest increase in spending (up 9% to $454 million), followed by NSW (up 8% to $11.3 billion) and Victoria (up 7% to $8.6 billion).

The data also revealed a 53% increase in visitors from India over the last three years, with Canada, Indonesia and Japan also showing significant increases in tourism numbers over the same time frame.