The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, says Tourism Research Australia's report, Travel by Australians- March Quarter 2009, highlights the challenges facing Australia's tourism sector and emphasises the importance of the work being done by the Government to boost domestic travel.
The global economic downturn and the fact that Easter fell outside the March Quarter this year have resulted in Australians taking fewer overnight trips in the first three months of 2009. The number of overnight domestic trips fell by 13% compared to the same period in 2008, while there were also declines in visitor nights (14%) and overnight spending (13%).
Minister Ferguson said: "Notwithstanding the effect of having Easter fall outside the reporting period, these results reflect the difficult economic backdrop affecting tourism globally since 2008.
"The global economic recession is significantly affecting consumer confidence to travel and this has impacted on the domestic market during the March quarter.
"This only underlines the importance of the Government's No Leave No Life campaign, launched on March 30 to coincide with the Government's $900 payments to millions of Australian workers.
"The No Leave No Life campaign aims to unlock Australia's massive annual leave stockpile worth 123 million days and $33 billion in wages.
"The enthusiasm with which Australian employers have embraced Tourism Australia's No Leave No Life program has been very pleasing and their interest bodes well for Australian tourism operators. More than 300 Australian employers - with a potential reach of 500,000 employees - have registered to use the program materials.
"It is terrific to see that so many Australian businesses are interested in getting behind the No Leave, No Life program to encourage their employees to take their annual leave and use it to holiday in Australia."
The Travel by Australians - March 2009 Quarter report, which presents the results of the National visitor Survey, is available from Tourism Research Australia and can be downloaded at www.tra.australia.com or email tra@tourism.australia.com.