1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
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Contents >> Tourism >> International inbound tourism - Characteristics

There were 4,768,294 visitors in 2001-02, a 2.5% increase in visitor arrivals from 1999-2000 (table 22.7). In the decade beginning 1991-92, international inbound visitors to Australia increased by 2,248,582 (89%).


22.7 INBOUND VISITORS
Visitors
Change(a)
no.
%
1991-92
2,519,712
13.1
1992-93
2,785,597
10.6
1993-94
3,168,961
13.8
1994-95
3,535,265
11.6
1995-96
3,966,161
12.2
1996-97
4,252,654
7.2
1997-98
4,220,005
-0.8
1998-99
4,288,027
1.6
1999-2000
4,651,785
8.5
2000-01
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
2001-02
4,768,294
(b)2.5
(a) From previous financial year.
(b) Percentage change calculated on 1999-2000. Overseas arrivals data for 2000-01 are not yet available due to delays in processing passenger cards.

Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).


In 2001-02, New Zealand was Australia's largest source of international visitors, accounting for 17% of total inbound visitors, followed by Japan (14%) and the United Kingdom (13%).

Almost two-thirds (66%) of all international visitors who arrived during 2001-02 came to Australia for a holiday. Another 12% arrived for business purposes (table 22.8).

Visitors from Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom constituted almost half (46%) of all international visitors who came to Australia for a holiday. New Zealand was the main source of visitors for business purposes (27%), while the United Kingdom accounted for most visitors arriving for employment (23%).
Asian countries accounted for nearly two-thirds (62%) of all visitors arriving in Australia for 'education' purposes.


22.8 INBOUND VISITORS, By country/region of residence and main purpose of trip - 2001-02
Main purpose of trip
Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total
visitors
Change on
1999-2000(c)
Country/region of residence
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
New Zealand
149.6
516.1
11.2
8.9
101.9
787.7
1.9
Other Oceania
12.5
71.1
1.3
4.4
30.5
119.8
-11.6
Germany
11.3
102.8
2.2
5.4
15.0
136.8
-7.1
United Kingdom
41.1
495.7
18.3
4.7
67.3
627.1
13.1
Other Europe
44.2
278.5
9.6
20.6
55.6
408.4
-4.8
Indonesia
9.2
52.2
1.2
14.2
17.9
94.7
13.9
Malaysia
13.2
106.8
1.4
13.0
19.7
154.3
5.1
Singapore
34.2
186.4
2.6
16.9
55.6
295.8
6.8
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
17.4
100.2
1.0
12.3
17.8
148.6
-0.3
Japan
34.4
435.6
5.9
15.8
167.5
659.2
-6.6
Korea
14.1
120.4
2.0
14.7
29.9
181.1
30.0
Taiwan
4.6
71.2
0.5
6.8
16.0
99.1
-29.7
Other Asia
65.1
193.4
6.1
37.9
71.2
373.7
28.5
United States of America
79.8
253.6
11.4
24.9
54.8
424.4
-2.9
Other America
15.7
84.2
2.1
7.1
17.5
126.7
11.0
Middle East and North Africa
5.4
37.4
0.7
1.9
10.9
56.3
8.2
Other Africa
11.8
44.6
1.6
2.1
12.5
72.7
0.4
Not stated
0.3
1.0
-
-
0.7
2.0
-55.0
Total
563.8
3,151.2
79.3
211.6
762.4
4,768.3
2.5
(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
(c) Data for 2000-01 are not yet available, so the percentage change has been calculated on 1999-2000.

Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.


The long travelling distances to Australia contribute to long stays for international visitors. In 2001-02, 43% of visitors stayed a minimum of two weeks, while 22% stayed for at least a month (table 22.9). Visitors arriving for 'education' purposes tended to stay for long periods (82% of these visitors stayed for a minimum of two weeks and 43% for six months or more), but their absolute numbers were relatively small.


22.9 INBOUND VISITORS, By intended length of stay and main purpose of trip - 2001-02
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
251.6
809.7
8.0
9.4
207.9
1,286.6
27.0
1 week and under 2 weeks
175.6
892.6
11.3
28.0
339.0
1,446.4
30.3
2 weeks and under 1 month
73.1
799.9
6.4
19.6
106.0
1,005.0
21.1
1 month and under 2 months
24.5
330.6
5.3
11.7
43.6
415.8
8.7
2 months and under 3 months
11.4
102.9
4.7
11.9
16.8
147.6
3.1
3 months and under 6 months
14.7
125.8
13.2
39.0
23.1
215.8
4.5
6 months and under 12 months
12.8
89.8
30.5
92.0
25.9
251.1
5.3
Total
563.8
3,151.2
79.3
211.6
762.4
4,768.3
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 2001-02 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 and the fewest visitors came for business purposes. April had the highest number of business visitors and May the fewest visitors arriving for a holiday (table 22.10).

A number of factors contribute to the relative lack of seasonality, primarily the attractive climate experienced in different parts of Australia throughout the whole year and the wide diversity of source countries.


22.10 INBOUND VISITORS, By month and main purpose of trip
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
%
2001
July
51.8
282.5
4.9
42.2
65.5
446.9
9.4
August
47.1
254.7
4.7
11.7
66.4
384.6
8.1
September
47.5
239.3
5.5
10.5
63.5
366.3
7.7
October
52.6
240.5
6.8
13.4
65.3
378.5
7.9
November
48.8
261.1
5.0
6.9
54.3
376.2
7.9
December
34.6
395.0
5.9
7.8
80.0
523.2
11.0
2002
January
35.3
237.9
9.0
29.1
68.0
379.3
8.0
February
46.4
274.5
7.2
37.0
72.2
437.2
9.2
March
49.0
300.9
9.6
16.5
70.5
446.5
9.4
April
55.9
241.5
8.5
13.2
41.3
360.3
7.6
May
54.3
204.9
6.5
9.2
55.0
329.9
6.9
June
40.7
218.5
5.7
14.2
60.4
339.4
7.1
Total
563.8
3,151.2
79.3
211.6
762.4
4,768.3
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).


New South Wales is by far the most popular state for all categories of international visitors. In 1999-2000 (the most recent data available), 38% of all nights spent by international visitors were spent in New South Wales. Queensland was the next most popular state, accounting for 22% 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 1999-2000 (table 22.11).


22.11 INBOUND VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory and main purpose of trip - 1999-2000
Main purpose of trip
Business
Visiting
friends/relatives
Holiday
All other
reasons
Total
Proportion
of total
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
New South Wales
2,702
7,738
16,168
15,623
42,232
37.6
Victoria
1,573
4,693
5,667
8,709
20,642
18.4
Queensland
803
4,593
14,342
4,440
24,177
21.5
South Australia
288
1,089
1,700
2,011
5,089
4.5
Western Australia
435
3,107
4,820
4,836
13,197
11.7
Tasmania
123
308
619
651
1,702
1.5
Northern Territory
136
333
2,399
429
3,297
2.9
Australian Capital Territory
179
299
286
1,240
2,004
1.8
Australia
6,259
22,161
46,002
37,939
112,361
100.0
(a) All visitors aged 15 years and over.

Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.



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