Latest international tourism data shows gains and losses

January 17, 2020

Latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for international visits to Australia shows alarmingly wide performance variations among states and territories, ranging from catastrophic plunges of over 20% to strong double-digit-percentage increases.

Short-term visitor arrivals and departures data for November showed the number of short-term arrivals rose by 1.7% overall, compared to the same month of the previous year, with Tasmania and Queensland showing significant rises, of 12.9% and 8.1% respectively.

By contract, NSW and South Australia saw small declines while for the Northern Territory visitation fell by a massive 21.4%.

For other states and territories, in comparing annual change to November 2019 (original estimates):

• The ACT saw growth of +4.4%.
• NSW saw a decrease of -2.7%.
• Queensland saw an increase of +8.1% (the best performance other than Tasmania).
• South Australia saw a decline of -4.7%.
• Tasmania recorded a rise of +12.4%.
• Victoria saw an increase of +2.4%.
• Western Australia registered an increase of +6.4%.

The three leading destination countries for Australian residents in November 2019 were:

New Zealand (125,700 trips)
Indonesia (123,400)
USA (85,600).

Among the top 10 destination countries, the highest annual increases were recorded for:

Japan (+24.8%)
Indonesia (+12.4%)
India (+7.3%).

The highest annual decreases were recorded for:

Thailand (-6.6%)
USA (-5.9%)

The latest annual figures from Tourism Research Australia also shows that Queensland and Tasmania experienced significant growth in the year ending September 2019.

Image: Hobart's Wrest Point.

17th January 2020 - ATEC emphasises the need for positive messages to international tourists

16th January 2020 - ATIC calls for Government support to sustain Australian tourism’s ‘open for business’ mantra

14th January 2020 - South East Queensland tourism strategy announced

14th January 2020 - South Australian Premier to take on tourism portfolio to lead post-bushfire recovery

10th January 2020 - Tourism Australia looks to reassure visitors with information on bushfire impacts

23rd December 2019 - New Tourism WA campaign set to entice German and Swiss travellers for outdoor adventure

19th December 2019 - Sapphire Coast tourism operators urge holidaymakers not to be deterred by bushfires

12th December 2019 - Australian Tourism Industry Council welcomes ABS record tourism numbers

6th December 2019 - Tourism Report calls for more effective climate change strategies to save our oceans

4th December 2019 - World Travel and Tourism Council calls for Climate Neutrality by 2050

2nd December 2019 - National Museum of Australia secures tourism industry award

19th November 2019 - Northern Territory releases 10-year Aboriginal Tourism Strategy

18th November 2019 - Tourism Central Australia takes on operation of mining museum visitor services

30th October 2019 - Tourism Australia launches new campaign ‘Come Live our Philausophy’

24th October 2019 - Study suggests future strategy for geothermal hot springs and bathing tourism in Victoria

23rd October 2019 - Domestic market sustaining tourism performance

7th December 2018 - Tasmania’s cultural heritage sector receives funding boost

15th May 2019 - Tourism Tasmania partners with Abercrombie & Kent to support raptor refuge

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.