Arrivals from traditional markets showed solid growth in the year to June while Asia continued to perform well, latest figures have shown.
China was the predictable star performer with arrivals up 17% to 647,000 with spending rising from $2.8 billion to almost $3.4b.
Total international arrivals climbed 5% to 5.8 million with total spend up 6% to $19.3b.
The figures were contained in the latest International Visitors Survey which showed Australia’s inbound industry in healthy shape despite the strength of the Australian dollar.
Arrivals from the US grew 27,000 to 465,000, just below the record set in 2001. There was also solid growth from the UK, up 11,000 to 574,000, and from New Zealand, up 5,000 to 1.08m.
Japan continued to disappoint however with arrivals down from 317,000 to 310,000.
“Results like these are clear indications of the ongoing strength of the Asian market and the continuing recovery of most of our traditional markets, in particular the US,” Tourism Research Australia (TRA) general manager and chief economist Dr Leo Jago said.
India, which Tourism Australia has high hopes for, grew 8% to 154,000 and there was solid growth from Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
TRA said a healthy 7% rebound in backpackers contributed to the recovery in traditional markets with total nights spent by backpackers up 14% and spend rising 10%.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland said Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef achieved double digit growth in all but one of its key international markets – New Zealand – with a total of 709,000 visitors.
Arrivals from China soared 45% to 136,000 with Japan up 10% to 96,000 and the UK and US up 11% to 87,000 and 83,000 respectively.
The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) described the results as "very encouraging" considering the global economic conditions.
