1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2004   
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Contents >> Tourism >> Domestic tourism

Australian residents aged 15 years and over spent an estimated 298.7 million nights visiting other parts of the country in 2002 (table 21.2). Each trip took an average of 4.0 nights and each person in the population (aged 15 years and over) made an average of 4.8 trips during 2002. Residents of the Australian Capital Territory were the most frequent travellers (averaging 6.9 trips per person), while residents of the Northern Territory tended to stay away for the longest period (averaging 7.0 nights per trip).

Domestic visitor nights refer to the number of nights Australian residents aged 15 years and over spent away from home in association with individual visits.

The number of domestic visitor nights grew 3.1% in 2002 compared to 2001. Domestic visitor nights in Tasmania showed the strongest growth (10.1%), following negative growth in previous years. The Australian Capital Territory was the only state/territory which recorded negative growth (down 6.4%) in 2002 compared to 2001, (table 21.3).

The average annual growth rate for domestic visitor nights in Australia between 1998 and 2002 was 0.4%. Queensland had the highest average annual growth rate (2.3%) between 1998 and 2002. Tasmania had the lowest average annual growth rate (-1.1%) between 1998 and 2002.

21.2 PERSON TRIPS AND NIGHTS AWAY(a), By state/territory of origin - 2002
Estimated resident population as at
30 June 2002(b)
Person
trips
Average
trips
Total nights
away
Average nights
away
Origin
’000
’000
per person
’000
per person trip
New South Wales
5,302
26,587
5.0
102,531
3.9
Victoria
3,911
19,001
4.9
69,538
3.7
Queensland
2,928
13,870
4.7
56,243
4.1
South Australia
1,231
5,221
4.2
22,287
4.3
Western Australia
1,528
6,591
4.3
28,698
4.4
Tasmania
375
1,574
4.2
7,101
4.5
Northern Territory
147
719
4.9
4,999
7.0
Australian Capital Territory
257
1,775
6.9
7,261
4.1
Australia
(c)15,681
75,339
4.8
298,658
4.0
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Sourced from 'Australian Demographic Statistics, June Quarter 2002' (3101.0).
(c) Includes Other Territories.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

21.3 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory of destination
Destination
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.(b)
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
1998
94,862
55,718
69,658
20,232
29,770
9,177
7,683
5,253
293,456
1999
93,866
52,565
78,083
19,272
29,219
8,517
6,430
5,963
294,266
2000
92,559
54,039
74,087
21,251
28,857
8,139
7,914
6,467
293,384
2001
89,447
55,747
75,002
19,508
28,068
7,970
7,174
5,749
289,644
2002
93,269
56,684
76,342
20,424
29,748
8,775
7,518
5,382
298,658
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state/territory.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

'Holiday/leisure' was the main purpose of 46% of domestic visitor nights in 2002. 'Holiday/leisure' accounted for the largest proportion of visitor nights in almost every state/territory. The exception was the Australian Capital Territory, where 'visiting friends/relatives' accounted for the largest share of visitor nights in 2002 (table 21.4).

New South Wales was the most popular destination in 2002, accounting for almost a third of all visitor nights (31%). Queensland was the next most popular destination, with over a quarter of all visitor nights (26%).

21.4 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory of destination and main purpose of visit - 2002
Business
Holiday/leisure
Visiting friends/relatives
Other
Total(b)
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
New South Wales
13,227
42,516
32,468
3,809
93,269
Victoria
7,359
25,423
19,877
3,141
56,684
Queensland
10,083
39,535
20,849
4,427
76,342
South Australia
3,092
8,769
6,778
1,192
20,424
Western Australia
6,197
12,757
7,871
1,493
29,748
Tasmania
1,670
4,579
1,905
480
8,775
Northern Territory
2,439
3,235
1,035
*227
7,518
Australian Capital Territory
1,468
1,522
2,027
*350
5,382
Australia(c)
46,000
138,381
92,814
15,118
298,658
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Includes visitor nights where purpose of visit was not stated.
(c) Components may not add to total as total includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state or territory.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

In 2002 the most frequently used accommodation by domestic travellers was the property of friends or relatives (41% of visitor nights), followed by hotels, resorts, motels and motor inns (23%) (table 21.5).

21.5 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), Type of accommodation used - 2002
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.(b)
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
Hotel, resort, motel, motor inn
22,082
11,662
20,037
3,788
5,296
2,484
1,742
1,881
69,436
Guest house/B&B
1,445
1,256
*391
*281
472
*447
**36
**27
4,355
Self-catering cottage/apartment
8,826
4,436
11,765
1,572
2,377
652
*452
*290
30,371
Caravan park or commercial camping ground
9,511
5,950
5,517
2,831
3,700
967
1,084
*201
29,761
Caravan or camping on private property
3,057
2,050
3,002
668
2,117
*412
676
**62
12,046
Friends’ or relatives’ property
41,063
25,301
28,522
8,590
10,992
2,578
1,851
2,702
121,648
Own property (e.g. holiday house)
3,334
3,254
2,185
947
946
*381
**14
**18
11,078
Other/not stated(c)
2,700
1,892
3,474
1,154
2,416
713
1,079
*186
13,616
Total(d)
93,269
56,684
76,342
20,424
29,748
8,775
7,518
5,382
298,658
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Components may not add to total as total includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state or territory.
(c) Other accommodation includes backpacker/hostel, university/school dormitory/college, hospital/hospital-related accommodation for relatives, and privately owned boat/yacht etc.
(d) Includes visitor nights where accommodation type was not stated.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.

Intrastate visits accounted for 56% of domestic tourism visitor nights in 2002. Intrastate visits were particularly important in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In these states 71%, 64% and 60% respectively of domestic visitor nights spent in the state were by residents of the state (table 21.6).

In terms of numbers of visitor nights, net beneficiaries from domestic tourism (i.e. where inbound interstate visitor nights are greater than outbound interstate visitor nights) in 2002 were Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Queensland benefited most from tourism in relative terms, with over twice as many inbound visitor nights as outbound visitor nights. Victoria contributed the most to tourism in relative terms, with the number of outbound visitor nights over one and a half times that of inbound visitor nights.

21.6 VISITOR NIGHTS(a) - 2002
Destination
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
Residence
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
New South Wales
60,034
10,490
20,801
2,725
2,418
1,875
1,236
2,954
102,531
Victoria
12,837
33,983
11,220
3,585
2,759
2,069
1,977
1,108
69,538
Queensland
10,372
3,163
37,592
833
1,684
528
1,005
598
56,243
South Australia
2,921
3,997
2,185
10,889
1,032
*456
*425
*383
22,287
Western Australia
1,403
2,003
1,158
1,106
21,177
622
996
*186
28,698
Tasmania
759
1,635
1,121
*214
*137
3,065
*108
**63
7,101
Northern Territory
666
*413
1,097
816
*167
**84
1,683
**71
4,999
Australian Capital Territory
4,277
1,000
1,168
*257
*373
**77
**88
**20
7,261
Total(b)
93,269
56,684
76,342
20,424
29,748
8,775
7,518
5,382
298,658
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Includes other and not stated.
Source: Bureau of Tourism Research, 'National Visitor Survey'.



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