Today's National Visitor Survey released by Tourism Research Australia shows that domestic tourism in the June quarter 2009 was down compared to the June quarter last year. Overnight visitor numbers fell by 4.4 per cent and visitor nights were down 4.1 per cent.
Minister Ferguson said: "That is why I will continue to encourage Tourism Australia to focus more of its efforts on the domestic market, as well as maintaining an international commitment to keep Australia top of mind when the global economy picks up.Tourism Australia and state tourism organisations will spend nearly half a billion dollars this year selling Australia to the world. Tourism Australia and 94 partner organisations have also invested almost $4 million to prise 123 million days of accrued leave from the fingers of hard-working Australians.
"That lelel is worth around $33 billion and that money could, and should be, going into the hands of the Australian tourism industry.I'm pleased to say 750,000 copies of My Australia, the next stage of the No Leave No Life campaign - providing inspirational holiday ideas - will be distributed across the nation next week.
"In the true Australian spirit, we need Australian employers and workers to get behind this campaign and help their mates in the tourism industry by taking a holiday at home."
The biggest fall in the June quarter was in the business travel category, reflecting a more cautious approach to expenditure as the business community has responded to the global financial crisis. Overnight visitor numbers were down 13 per cent and visitor nights 11 per cent.
The visiting friends and relatives category showed a 2.5 per cent fall in visitor numbers, but a 10 per cent decline in visitor nights, also reflecting a more cautious approach to spending during the economic downturn. In other categories, the tourism industry held its own, reflecting the success of the No Leave, No Life campaign and the government's economic stimulus package.
Overnight visitor numbers increased by 6 per cent for education, personal appointments, health-related and employment/leisure purposes, with visitor nights remaining steady. And although holiday travel numbers declined by 2 per cent, visitor nights were up by 3 per cent.
Minister Ferguson said: "It is also worth noting restaurant and catering grew over the last year - in the middle of a global financial crisis - and Restaurant and Catering Australia has given full credit to the government's economic stimulus package, estimating at least $80 million was injected into the industry.
"As a result of the stimulus, the Australian economy is the only advanced economy in the world to have grown in the face of the global financial crisis."