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Characteristics
There were 4.8 million inbound international visitors in 2002, down 0.3% from 2001 (table 21.7)
The average annual growth rate for inbound visitors between 1992 and 2002 was 6.4%. The level of international inbound visitors to Australia increased by 2.2 million (86%) in the decade beginning 1992. Annual growth rates of inbound visitors were strongly positive for most of the period. It is likely that events such as the terrorist attacks in the United States of America (September 2001) and Bali (October 2002) affected the annual growth rates for 2001 and 2002, and the Asian economic crisis impacted on that for 1998.
21.7 INBOUND VISITORS
|
 | Visitors | Change(a) |
| '000 | % |
|
| 1992 | 2,603.3 | 9.8 |
| 1993 | 2,996.2 | 15.1 |
| 1994 | 3,361.7 | 12.2 |
| 1995 | 3,725.8 | 10.8 |
| 1996 | 4,164.8 | 11.8 |
| 1997 | 4,317.9 | 3.7 |
| 1998 | 4,167.2 | -3.5 |
| 1999 | 4,459.5 | 7.0 |
| 2000 | 4,931.4 | 10.6 |
| 2001 | 4,855.7 | -1.5 |
| 2002 | 4,841.2 | -0.3 |
|
| (a) From previous calendar year. |
| | |
| Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0). |
In 2002, New Zealand was Australia's largest source of international visitors, accounting for 16% of total inbound visitors, followed by Japan (15%) and the United Kingdom (13%). 'Holiday' was the main purpose of visit for two-thirds (67%) of the international visitors. New Zealand was also the main source of visitors for business purposes (26%), while the United Kingdom accounted for one-quarter of all visitors arriving for employment. Visitors from Asian countries accounted for just over two-fifths (43%) of all international visitors and nearly two-thirds (62%) of all visitors arriving in Australia for 'education' purposes (table 21.8).
21.8 INBOUND VISITORS, By country/region of residence and main purpose of trip - 2002
|
| Main purpose of trip | | | |
|
| | | |
| Business(a) | Holiday(b) | Employment | Education | Other and
not stated | | Total
visitors | Change on 2001 |
| Country/region of residence | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | | ’000 | % |
|
| New Zealand | 150.8 | 513.4 | 10.1 | 8.7 | 107.1 | | 790.1 | -3.0 |
| Other Oceania | 13.0 | 68.1 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 28.9 | | 114.9 | -8.4 |
| Germany | 11.2 | 101.5 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 14.0 | | 134.8 | -8.7 |
| United Kingdom | 42.8 | 509.7 | 20.4 | 5.3 | 64.4 | | 642.7 | 4.1 |
| Other Europe | 44.0 | 272.9 | 10.1 | 20.6 | 55.5 | | 403.0 | -2.7 |
| Indonesia | 8.9 | 48.2 | 1.1 | 13.8 | 17.4 | | 89.4 | -8.7 |
| Malaysia | 14.3 | 113.2 | 1.2 | 12.8 | 17.5 | | 159.0 | 6.4 |
| Singapore | 32.7 | 183.5 | 2.5 | 16.6 | 51.5 | | 286.9 | -3.1 |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 17.1 | 97.9 | 1.1 | 12.8 | 22.0 | | 150.9 | -2.1 |
| Japan | 35.9 | 531.4 | 5.1 | 17.9 | 125.1 | | 715.5 | 6.2 |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 12.0 | 132.0 | 2.1 | 14.9 | 28.7 | | 189.7 | 8.0 |
| Taiwan | 4.8 | 67.1 | 0.5 | 6.9 | 18.1 | | 97.4 | -11.5 |
| Other Asia | 69.6 | 200.3 | 6.1 | 40.8 | 72.6 | | 389.3 | 8.0 |
| United States of America | 84.3 | 251.5 | 13.3 | 26.8 | 58.5 | | 434.5 | -2.7 |
| Other America | 14.7 | 81.6 | 2.1 | 7.1 | 16.2 | | 121.7 | -7.1 |
| Middle East and North Africa | 5.5 | 33.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 10.0 | | 51.5 | -8.4 |
| Other Africa | 10.4 | 41.8 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 11.1 | | 67.3 | -5.9 |
| Not stated | 0.4 | 1.5 | 0.1 | - | 0.5 | | 2.6 | -81.4 |
| Total | 572.4 | 3,249.1 | 81.9 | 218.9 | 719.0 | | 4,841.2 | -0.3 |
|
(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 2002 over half (58%) of international visitors to Australia stayed for less than two weeks (table 21.9). Visitors arriving for 'education' purposes tended to stay relatively long periods (84% of these visitors stayed for a minimum of two weeks and 44% for six months or more in 2002) but their absolute numbers were relatively small.
21.9 INBOUND VISITORS, By intended length of stay and main purpose of trip - 2002
|
| 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 | 255.0 | 898.2 | 8.3 | 9.3 | 187.0 | | 1,357.9 | 28.0 |
| 1 week and under 2 weeks | 175.9 | 904.1 | 9.6 | 25.1 | 320.8 | | 1,435.5 | 29.7 |
| 2 weeks and under 1 month | 76.5 | 793.8 | 6.4 | 21.8 | 99.3 | | 997.8 | 20.6 |
| 1 month and under 2 months | 25.0 | 324.6 | 5.2 | 12.3 | 43.9 | | 411.0 | 8.5 |
| 2 months and under 3 months | 11.2 | 103.1 | 5.0 | 13.9 | 17.0 | | 150.3 | 3.1 |
| 3 months and under 6 months | 15.6 | 133.0 | 15.6 | 40.5 | 24.0 | | 228.7 | 4.7 |
| 6 months and under 12 months | 13.2 | 92.1 | 31.7 | 95.9 | 27.0 | | 260.0 | 5.4 |
| Total | 572.4 | 3,249.1 | 81.9 | 218.9 | 719.0 | | 4,841.2 | 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 2002 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. December was also the month in which the fewest visitors came for business, education and employment purposes. November had the highest number of business visitors and May the fewest visitors arriving for a holiday (table 21.10).
21.10 INBOUND VISITORS, By month and main purpose of trip - 2002
|
| 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 | % |
|
| January | 35.3 | 237.9 | 9.0 | 29.1 | 68.0 | | 379.3 | 7.8 |
| February | 46.4 | 274.5 | 7.2 | 37.0 | 72.2 | | 437.2 | 9.0 |
| March | 49.0 | 300.9 | 9.6 | 16.5 | 70.5 | | 446.5 | 9.2 |
| April | 55.9 | 241.5 | 8.5 | 13.2 | 41.3 | | 360.3 | 7.4 |
| May | 54.3 | 204.9 | 6.5 | 9.2 | 55.0 | | 329.9 | 6.8 |
| June | 40.7 | 218.5 | 5.7 | 14.2 | 60.4 | | 339.4 | 7.0 |
| July | 50.4 | 244.7 | 5.6 | 44.9 | 72.5 | | 418.2 | 8.6 |
| August | 43.5 | 239.9 | 6.4 | 13.7 | 68.4 | | 371.9 | 7.7 |
| September | 49.8 | 224.6 | 6.6 | 11.1 | 66.5 | | 358.6 | 7.4 |
| October | 56.4 | 302.9 | 6.1 | 14.8 | 48.6 | | 428.9 | 8.9 |
| November | 56.7 | 319.9 | 6.1 | 8.5 | 45.7 | | 437.0 | 9.0 |
| December | 34.0 | 438.8 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 49.8 | | 534.0 | 11.0 |
| Total | 572.4 | 3,249.1 | 81.9 | 218.9 | 719.0 | | 4,841.2 | 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). |
In 2002, 41% of all nights spent in Australia by international visitors were spent in New South Wales. Queensland was the next most popular state, accounting for 20% 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 2002 (table 21.11).
21.11 INBOUND VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory and main purpose of trip - 2002
|
| Main purpose of trip | | | |
|
| | | |
| Business | Visiting friends/
relatives | Holiday | All other
reasons | | Total | Proportion
of total |
| ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | | ’000 | % |
|
| New South Wales | 3,555 | 7,387 | 16,805 | 20,965 | | 48,711 | 41.0 |
| Victoria | 1,456 | 4,810 | 5,149 | 10,001 | | 21,417 | 18.0 |
| Queensland | 1,779 | 4,385 | 13,524 | 4,212 | | 23,900 | 20.1 |
| South Australia | 399 | 765 | 1,644 | 1,673 | | 4,481 | 3.8 |
| Western Australia | 541 | 2,889 | 5,463 | 4,700 | | 13,593 | 11.4 |
| Tasmania | 57 | 349 | 1,013 | 215 | | 1,634 | 1.4 |
| Northern Territory | 169 | 178 | 2,290 | 316 | | 2,952 | 2.5 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 189 | 436 | 350 | 1,044 | | 2,019 | 1.7 |
| Australia | 8,154 | 21,200 | 46,260 | 43,131 | | 118,745 | 100.0 |
|
| (a) All visitors aged 15 years and over. |
| | | | | | | |
| Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'International Visitor Survey'. |
Expenditure
In 2002 international visitors to Australia spent an average of $4,748 on each trip. Visitors from the United States of America spent the most, averaging $7,127, followed by those from Germany ($6,826) and all other European countries (Other Europe) ($6,445). The lowest average expenditure, $2,121 per visitor, was by visitors from New Zealand (table 21.12).
The top three expenditure items for the average visitor expenditure of all countries combined were: prepaid international airfares; food, drink and accommodation; and package tours.
Education fees accounted for a relatively large proportion of total expenditure for visitors from most of the Asian countries in 2002. Education fees was among the top three expenditure items for visitors from:
- Indonesia ($1,518 or 26% of expenditure)
- Thailand ($1,094 or 24% of expenditure)
- Malaysia ($726 or 19% of expenditure)
- Hong Kong ($715 or 15% of expenditure)
- Other Asia ($698 or 14% of expenditure).
21.12 AVERAGE VISITOR EXPENDITURE - 2002
|
| Items of expenditure | |
|
| |
| Package
tours | Prepaid international
airfares | Transport(a) | Food, drink and
accommodation | Shopping | Entertainment
and gambling | Education
fees | Other(b) | Total |
| Country/region of residence | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
|
| New Zealand | 257 | 530 | 200 | 649 | 353 | 70 | 9 | 54 | 2,121 |
| Germany | 1,574 | 1,673 | 1,031 | 1,677 | 350 | 95 | 323 | 103 | 6,826 |
| United Kingdom | 1,013 | 1,969 | 678 | 1,490 | 430 | 123 | 53 | 86 | 5,842 |
| Other Europe | 1,203 | 1,842 | 797 | 1,670 | 426 | 116 | 283 | 108 | 6,445 |
| Indonesia | 433 | 821 | 529 | 1,399 | 782 | 131 | 1,518 | 162 | 5,775 |
| Malaysia | 370 | 741 | 314 | 967 | 473 | 157 | 726 | 120 | 3,870 |
| Singapore | 310 | 727 | 683 | 886 | 389 | 158 | 582 | 70 | 3,806 |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 510 | 1,018 | 442 | 1,197 | 561 | 151 | 715 | 138 | 4,731 |
| Japan | 2,179 | 316 | 247 | 365 | 571 | 37 | 119 | 24 | 3,856 |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 1,012 | 818 | 410 | 1,076 | 727 | 108 | 776 | 84 | 5,010 |
| Taiwan | 1,280 | 687 | 306 | 709 | 606 | 138 | 529 | 57 | 4,312 |
| Thailand | 440 | 802 | 389 | 1,161 | 470 | 130 | 1,094 | 131 | 4,617 |
| China excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.) | 1,119 | 1,277 | 400 | 1,214 | 710 | 192 | 959 | 135 | 6,006 |
| Other Asia | 655 | 1,278 | 425 | 1,289 | 491 | 91 | 698 | 194 | 5,121 |
| United States of America | 1,642 | 2,149 | 616 | 1,468 | 485 | 123 | 550 | 93 | 7,127 |
| Canada | 972 | 1,926 | 647 | 1,502 | 370 | 136 | 114 | 119 | 5,787 |
| Other countries | 455 | 1,423 | 378 | 898 | 527 | 77 | 261 | 82 | 4,101 |
| All countries | 1,032 | 1,167 | 474 | 1,061 | 483 | 104 | 345 | 83 | 4,748 |
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(a) Includes: organised tours; international airfares bought in Australia; domestic airfares; other transport fares; self-drive cars, rent-a-cars, campervans; petrol and oil for self-drive cars or other vehicles; and motor vehicles.
(b) Includes: phone, Internet, fax and postage; convention registration fees; medical expenses; and other expenses not elsewhere specified. |
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| Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'International Visitor Survey'. |
International visitors whose main purpose of trip was education or employment had the highest average expenditure in 2002 ($13,448 and $10,092, respectively) (table 21.13).
21.13 AVERAGE VISITOR EXPENDITURE, By expenditure item and main purpose of trip - 2002
|
| Main purpose of trip | |
|
| |
| Business | Visiting friends and relatives | Holiday | Education | Employment | All other reasons | Total |
| Expenditure item | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
|
| Package tours | 553 | 168 | 1,538 | 678 | 309 | 769 | 1,032 |
| Prepaid international airfares | 1,719 | 1,493 | 870 | 1,247 | 1,424 | 1,417 | 1,167 |
| Transport(a) | 252 | 325 | 495 | 1,229 | 1,681 | 230 | 474 |
| Food, drink and accommodation | 1,131 | 654 | 841 | 3,756 | 4,892 | 547 | 1,061 |
| Shopping | 367 | 475 | 483 | 869 | 809 | 286 | 483 |
| Entertainment and gambling | 83 | 74 | 96 | 283 | 472 | 44 | 104 |
| Education fees | 13 | 55 | 60 | 5,036 | 80 | 72 | 345 |
| Other(b) | 123 | 54 | 46 | 348 | 424 | 78 | 83 |
| All items | 4,242 | 3,298 | 4,428 | 13,448 | 10,092 | 3,443 | 4,748 |
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(a) Includes: organised tours; international airfares bought in Australia; domestic airfares; other transport fares; self-drive cars, rent-a-cars, campervans; petrol and oil for self-drive cars or other vehicles; and motor vehicles.
(b) Includes: phone, Internet, fax and postage; convention registration fees; medical expenses; and other expenses not elsewhere specified. |
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| Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'International Visitor Survey'. |
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