Tourism expenditure crucial for regional economies
SYDNEY (Tourism Australia) - A new report released today by Tourism Research Australia has found that domestic and international visitors spent $63.5 billion in Australia during the 12 months ending 30 June 2005.
"Domestic and international travellers in Australia are major contributors to the Australian economy, particularly in regional areas," said Scott Morrison, Managing Director Tourism Australia.
"Eighty per cent of all expenditure was spent by domestic day and overnight visitors amounting to $51billion. International tourists contributed an additional $12.5billion to the Australian economy," Mr Morrison said.
"New South Wales received the largest proportion of expenditure from domestic and international visitors (31%), followed by Queensland (27%), Victoria (19%), Western Australia (10%), South Australia (6%), Tasmania (3%), Northern Territory (3%) and Australian Capital Territory (2%).
"The top five tourism regions in terms of domestic day visitor expenditure were Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast.
"Fifty seven per cent of the domestic day visitor expenditure and 53 per cent of the domestic overnight visitor expenditure in Australia was in the regional areas which exclude the capital cities and the Gold Coast.
"The top five tourism regions in terms of international visitor expenditure were Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Tropical North Queensland and the Gold Coast.
"Among the capital cities and Gold Coast, international visitors to Melbourne had the highest average expenditure per visitor at $1,724, and international visitors to the Gold Coast had the highest average expenditure per night at $126.
"Tourism Australia is working to increase tourism spend and dispersal thereby increasing economic and employment opportunities particularly in rural, regional and remote areas," Scott Morrison concluded.
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