Martin Ferguson
Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Tourism
Senator Nick Sherry
Minister for Small Business
Minister Assisting on Deregulation and Public Sector Superannuation
Minister Assisting on Tourism
The latest data on overseas arrivals and departures confirm China is leading the growth in travel to Australia.
Today’s figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show arrivals from China increased 63 per cent in January 2011 from January 2010. Arrivals from Hong Kong increased 26 per cent and arrivals from Malaysia increased 25 per cent.
“With extra services and charter flights between Australia and China, these new figures mean there is now little doubt about the importance of the growing Chinese market,” said Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP.
“That means there is even greater urgency to use the $12 million we’ve committed with the Queensland Government in the wake of the natural disasters to help the state’s tourism operators connect with a growing and increasingly lucrative market.
“And wherever there are potential visitors thinking of deferring a trip to Queensland because of the damage, the clear message is that most of the state’s attractions were either unaffected or have recovered very quickly.”
In 2010, there were 453,800 Chinese visitors who contributed $3.1 billion in exports.
“China has already overtaken the UK as Australia’s most valuable tourism market,” said the Minister Assisting on Tourism, Senator Nick Sherry.
“There are tens of thousands of small businesses right across Australia who stand to benefit immediately from the growth in overseas arrivals.
“The Australian Government’s National Long-Term Tourism Strategy is putting measures in place to make sure tourism-related businesses can find investment and skills to grow.”
The complete ABS figures are available at http://www.abs.gov.au.