The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has welcomed today's release of Tourism Research Australia's International Visitor Survey showing the Australian tourism industry out-performed the rest of the world last year.
Despite the global economy contracting for the first time since World War II, international visitor arrivals to Australia in 2009 matched 2008 levels at 5.6 million. Visitor nights increased six per cent and visitor expenditure increased by five per cent.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation estimates global tourism declined four per cent throughout 2009 with arrivals to Europe down six per cent, Americas down five per cent, Middle East down six per cent and Asia Pacific down two per cent.
Minister Ferguson said: "Australia has done what it always does well – held up when the chips are down. The commitment of the Australian Government and Tourism Australia – as well as state and territory tourism organisations, airlines and tourism operators – to maintain a strong marketing presence in more than 25 global markets throughout the global financial crisis has paid off."
Growth was strongest in the December quarter. Visitor numbers to Australia increased five per cent compared with the same quarter in 2008, visitor nights increased by four per cent, and expenditure was up three per cent.
The increases in visitor nights and spend in Australia during 2009 were led by growth in the education and backpacker markets, while the China and USA markets led the way in recording growth in the December quarter.
Minister Ferguson said: "The new $20 million marketing partnership between Tourism Australia and the Australian tourism industry launched in January will further stimulate travel to Australia from our top regional trading partners.
"The fact that travel to Australia is continuing to grow also provides a good platform for Tourism Australia's soon-to-be-released new global marketing campaign. To be successful, the new campaign will require a strong partnership with the private sector and I encourage tourism operators to get on board."
The Australian tourism sector provides jobs for half a million Australians, contributes 4 per cent to Australia's GDP and is the lifeblood of many regional communities.
Report available at: www.ret.gov.au/tourism/tra/international/survey/Pages/default.aspx.