1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2004   
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Contents >> Tourism >> International inbound tourism

Characteristics

There were 4.8 million inbound international visitors in 2002, down 0.3% from 2001 (table 21.7)

The average annual growth rate for inbound visitors between 1992 and 2002 was 6.4%. The level of international inbound visitors to Australia increased by 2.2 million (86%) in the decade beginning 1992. Annual growth rates of inbound visitors were strongly positive for most of the period. It is likely that events such as the terrorist attacks in the United States of America (September 2001) and Bali (October 2002) affected the annual growth rates for 2001 and 2002, and the Asian economic crisis impacted on that for 1998.

21.7 INBOUND VISITORS

Visitors
Change(a)
'000
%

1992
2,603.3
9.8
1993
2,996.2
15.1
1994
3,361.7
12.2
1995
3,725.8
10.8
1996
4,164.8
11.8
1997
4,317.9
3.7
1998
4,167.2
-3.5
1999
4,459.5
7.0
2000
4,931.4
10.6
2001
4,855.7
-1.5
2002
4,841.2
-0.3

(a) From previous calendar year.
Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

In 2002, New Zealand was Australia's largest source of international visitors, accounting for 16% of total inbound visitors, followed by Japan (15%) and the United Kingdom (13%). 'Holiday' was the main purpose of visit for two-thirds (67%) of the international visitors. New Zealand was also the main source of visitors for business purposes (26%), while the United Kingdom accounted for one-quarter of all visitors arriving for employment. Visitors from Asian countries accounted for just over two-fifths (43%) of all international visitors and nearly two-thirds (62%) of all visitors arriving in Australia for 'education' purposes (table 21.8).

21.8 INBOUND VISITORS, By country/region of residence and main purpose of trip - 2002

Main purpose of trip

Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total
visitors
Change on 2001
Country/region of residence
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%

New Zealand
150.8
513.4
10.1
8.7
107.1
790.1
-3.0
Other Oceania
13.0
68.1
1.0
3.8
28.9
114.9
-8.4
Germany
11.2
101.5
2.6
5.6
14.0
134.8
-8.7
United Kingdom
42.8
509.7
20.4
5.3
64.4
642.7
4.1
Other Europe
44.0
272.9
10.1
20.6
55.5
403.0
-2.7
Indonesia
8.9
48.2
1.1
13.8
17.4
89.4
-8.7
Malaysia
14.3
113.2
1.2
12.8
17.5
159.0
6.4
Singapore
32.7
183.5
2.5
16.6
51.5
286.9
-3.1
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
17.1
97.9
1.1
12.8
22.0
150.9
-2.1
Japan
35.9
531.4
5.1
17.9
125.1
715.5
6.2
Korea, Republic of (South)
12.0
132.0
2.1
14.9
28.7
189.7
8.0
Taiwan
4.8
67.1
0.5
6.9
18.1
97.4
-11.5
Other Asia
69.6
200.3
6.1
40.8
72.6
389.3
8.0
United States of America
84.3
251.5
13.3
26.8
58.5
434.5
-2.7
Other America
14.7
81.6
2.1
7.1
16.2
121.7
-7.1
Middle East and North Africa
5.5
33.4
0.5
2.1
10.0
51.5
-8.4
Other Africa
10.4
41.8
1.7
2.2
11.1
67.3
-5.9
Not stated
0.4
1.5
0.1
-
0.5
2.6
-81.4
Total
572.4
3,249.1
81.9
218.9
719.0
4,841.2
-0.3

(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.

In 2002 over half (58%) of international visitors to Australia stayed for less than two weeks (table 21.9). Visitors arriving for 'education' purposes tended to stay relatively long periods (84% of these visitors stayed for a minimum of two weeks and 44% for six months or more in 2002) but their absolute numbers were relatively small.

21.9 INBOUND VISITORS, By intended length of stay and main purpose of trip - 2002

Main purpose of trip

Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total
Proportion
of total
Intended length of stay
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%

Under 1 week
255.0
898.2
8.3
9.3
187.0
1,357.9
28.0
1 week and under 2 weeks
175.9
904.1
9.6
25.1
320.8
1,435.5
29.7
2 weeks and under 1 month
76.5
793.8
6.4
21.8
99.3
997.8
20.6
1 month and under 2 months
25.0
324.6
5.2
12.3
43.9
411.0
8.5
2 months and under 3 months
11.2
103.1
5.0
13.9
17.0
150.3
3.1
3 months and under 6 months
15.6
133.0
15.6
40.5
24.0
228.7
4.7
6 months and under 12 months
13.2
92.1
31.7
95.9
27.0
260.0
5.4
Total
572.4
3,249.1
81.9
218.9
719.0
4,841.2
100.0

(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.

In 2002 most arrivals were in December (11% of total arrivals), while the fewest arrivals (7%) were in May. December was the month in which the highest number of 'holiday' visitors arrived. December was also the month in which the fewest visitors came for business, education and employment purposes. November had the highest number of business visitors and May the fewest visitors arriving for a holiday (table 21.10).

21.10 INBOUND VISITORS, By month and main purpose of trip - 2002
Main purpose of trip

Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total visitors
Proportion of total
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%

January
35.3
237.9
9.0
29.1
68.0
379.3
7.8
February
46.4
274.5
7.2
37.0
72.2
437.2
9.0
March
49.0
300.9
9.6
16.5
70.5
446.5
9.2
April
55.9
241.5
8.5
13.2
41.3
360.3
7.4
May
54.3
204.9
6.5
9.2
55.0
329.9
6.8
June
40.7
218.5
5.7
14.2
60.4
339.4
7.0
July
50.4
244.7
5.6
44.9
72.5
418.2
8.6
August
43.5
239.9
6.4
13.7
68.4
371.9
7.7
September
49.8
224.6
6.6
11.1
66.5
358.6
7.4
October
56.4
302.9
6.1
14.8
48.6
428.9
8.9
November
56.7
319.9
6.1
8.5
45.7
437.0
9.0
December
34.0
438.8
4.4
6.9
49.8
534.0
11.0
Total
572.4
3,249.1
81.9
218.9
719.0
4,841.2
100.0

(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

In 2002, 41% of all nights spent in Australia by international visitors were spent in New South Wales. Queensland was the next most popular state, accounting for 20% of all international visitor nights. Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory were the least popular destinations, each accounting for less than 2% of international visitor nights in 2002 (table 21.11).

21.11 INBOUND VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory and main purpose of trip - 2002

Main purpose of trip

Business
Visiting friends/
relatives
Holiday
All other
reasons
Total
Proportion
of total
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%

New South Wales
3,555
7,387
16,805
20,965
48,711
41.0
Victoria
1,456
4,810
5,149
10,001
21,417
18.0
Queensland
1,779
4,385
13,524
4,212
23,900
20.1
South Australia
399
765
1,644
1,673
4,481
3.8
Western Australia
541
2,889
5,463
4,700
13,593
11.4
Tasmania
57
349
1,013
215
1,634
1.4
Northern Territory
169
178
2,290
316
2,952
2.5
Australian Capital Territory
189
436
350
1,044
2,019
1.7
Australia
8,154
21,200
46,260
43,131
118,745
100.0

(a) All visitors aged 15 years and over.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'International Visitor Survey'.

Expenditure

In 2002 international visitors to Australia spent an average of $4,748 on each trip. Visitors from the United States of America spent the most, averaging $7,127, followed by those from Germany ($6,826) and all other European countries (Other Europe) ($6,445). The lowest average expenditure, $2,121 per visitor, was by visitors from New Zealand (table 21.12).

The top three expenditure items for the average visitor expenditure of all countries combined were: prepaid international airfares; food, drink and accommodation; and package tours.

Education fees accounted for a relatively large proportion of total expenditure for visitors from most of the Asian countries in 2002. Education fees was among the top three expenditure items for visitors from:
  • Indonesia ($1,518 or 26% of expenditure)
  • Thailand ($1,094 or 24% of expenditure)
  • Malaysia ($726 or 19% of expenditure)
  • Hong Kong ($715 or 15% of expenditure)
  • Other Asia ($698 or 14% of expenditure).
21.12 AVERAGE VISITOR EXPENDITURE - 2002

Items of expenditure

Package
tours
Prepaid international
airfares
Transport(a)
Food, drink and
accommodation
Shopping
Entertainment
and gambling
Education
fees
Other(b)
Total
Country/region of residence
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

New Zealand
257
530
200
649
353
70
9
54
2,121
Germany
1,574
1,673
1,031
1,677
350
95
323
103
6,826
United Kingdom
1,013
1,969
678
1,490
430
123
53
86
5,842
Other Europe
1,203
1,842
797
1,670
426
116
283
108
6,445
Indonesia
433
821
529
1,399
782
131
1,518
162
5,775
Malaysia
370
741
314
967
473
157
726
120
3,870
Singapore
310
727
683
886
389
158
582
70
3,806
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
510
1,018
442
1,197
561
151
715
138
4,731
Japan
2,179
316
247
365
571
37
119
24
3,856
Korea, Republic of (South)
1,012
818
410
1,076
727
108
776
84
5,010
Taiwan
1,280
687
306
709
606
138
529
57
4,312
Thailand
440
802
389
1,161
470
130
1,094
131
4,617
China excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.)
1,119
1,277
400
1,214
710
192
959
135
6,006
Other Asia
655
1,278
425
1,289
491
91
698
194
5,121
United States of America
1,642
2,149
616
1,468
485
123
550
93
7,127
Canada
972
1,926
647
1,502
370
136
114
119
5,787
Other countries
455
1,423
378
898
527
77
261
82
4,101
All countries
1,032
1,167
474
1,061
483
104
345
83
4,748

(a) Includes: organised tours; international airfares bought in Australia; domestic airfares; other transport fares; self-drive cars, rent-a-cars, campervans; petrol and oil for self-drive cars or other vehicles; and motor vehicles.
(b) Includes: phone, Internet, fax and postage; convention registration fees; medical expenses; and other expenses not elsewhere specified.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'International Visitor Survey'.

International visitors whose main purpose of trip was education or employment had the highest average expenditure in 2002 ($13,448 and $10,092, respectively) (table 21.13).

21.13 AVERAGE VISITOR EXPENDITURE, By expenditure item and main purpose of trip - 2002

Main purpose of trip

Business
Visiting friends and relatives
Holiday
Education
Employment
All other reasons
Total
Expenditure item
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Package tours
553
168
1,538
678
309
769
1,032
Prepaid international airfares
1,719
1,493
870
1,247
1,424
1,417
1,167
Transport(a)
252
325
495
1,229
1,681
230
474
Food, drink and accommodation
1,131
654
841
3,756
4,892
547
1,061
Shopping
367
475
483
869
809
286
483
Entertainment and gambling
83
74
96
283
472
44
104
Education fees
13
55
60
5,036
80
72
345
Other(b)
123
54
46
348
424
78
83
All items
4,242
3,298
4,428
13,448
10,092
3,443
4,748

(a) Includes: organised tours; international airfares bought in Australia; domestic airfares; other transport fares; self-drive cars, rent-a-cars, campervans; petrol and oil for self-drive cars or other vehicles; and motor vehicles.
(b) Includes: phone, Internet, fax and postage; convention registration fees; medical expenses; and other expenses not elsewhere specified.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'International Visitor Survey'.



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