More overseas tourists came to Australia last year, spending more and staying longer, making 2015 the year with the highest-ever growth in international visitor expenditure, Minister for Trade and Investment Steve Ciobo announced Wednesday.
The country witnessed an 18 percent growth, or 5.5 billion AU dollars (3.9 billion U.S. dollars) rise, to a record high of 36.6 billion AU dollars (26 billion U.S. dollars) in international visitors expenditure in 2015.
Australian tourism exports are breaking records as international visitors are spending more and staying longer. This is the largest increase on record and the highest percentage growth since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Tourism Research Australia's International Visitor Survey, released today, also reveals international visitor numbers increased eight percent to 6.9 million and nights were up 11 percent to 248.1 million, also new record highs.
"Australia's desirability as a global tourism destination has been boosted by the Government's efforts to increase flight capacity, our visa reforms and targeted international marketing campaigns, as well as the lower value of the Australian dollar," Ciobo said.
He said the government has put emphasis on improving tourism infrastructure, making it one of its five National Investment Priorities. As the economy transitions from the mining investment boom, the Australian government is trying to diversify the economy by strengthening the tourism industry, which supports employment for around one million people.
Record total trip spend was recorded from many key markets, including China, the United States, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia. The number of visitors from China increased 21 percent while expenditure increased 45 percent to reach a new record high of 8.3 billion AU dollars (5.9 billion U.S. dollars).
This followed 1 million visitors to Australia for the first time in 2015. Australia's strong international education sector is attracting more and more visitors, with numbers up 21 percent and nights up 20 percent. This saw total trip spend for education visitors' increase by 30 percent for the year to 8.7 billion AU dollars (6.3 billion U.S. dollars).
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