The latest International Visitor Survey report by Tourism Research Australia (TRA) shows international visitor numbers up by 7% to a new record high of 6.6m for the year ending June 2015 and spending up 10% to a record A$33.4bn ($23.4bn) or by the equivalent of A$3.2bn ($2.2bn) above the previous year.

 

TRA says this is ‘the strongest year-ending June growth since 2001’ during the period of the Sydney Olympic Games, where the number of visitor nights rose by 8% to 236m.

 

 

In its top line comment for the present results, TRA said it was leisure travel that not surprisingly drove growth, with holiday arrivals up 5% to 2.9m and those visiting friends and relatives (VFR) also increasing by 6% to 1.8m.

 

Tourism Research Australia adds that China led the rest in terms of Australia’s top five markets by spend with these visitor numbers increasing by 22% (864,000), and trip spend by an equally impressive 32% (A$7bn/$4.9bn)). The Chinese visitor contribution effectively accounted for around A$1 ($0.70c) in every A$5 ($3.51) spent by international visitors.

 

 

Following on, the USA recorded record growth in visitors (up 9% to 544,000) as did New Zealand (up 3% to 1.2m), although visitors from the UK (629,000) and Japan (297,000) were described as remaining ‘steady’.

 

Interestingly, India was reported as one of the fastest growing source markets for the year, thanks in part to both Australia and New Zealand hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup this year. Visitors from India grew 20% to 207,000 and TRA says this moves India up three places to become Australia’s 8th largest market. Total Indian trip spending also grew by 39% and surpassed A$1bn ($700,000) for the first time.

 

 

“With these positive results and a growing domestic market, the Australian tourism industry is well positioned for growth and to continue making a significant contribution to the Australian economy,” said Tourism Research Australia’s Assistant General Manager, Spiro Kavadias.