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

In 2002 there were over 1.3 million more international visitors to Australia than Australians travelling abroad (tables 21.7 and 21.14). Consequently, the net contribution of the travel item to Australia's balance on current account was positive in 2002-03 (in table 30.26 of International accounts and trade, the difference between travel services exports and imports).

21.14 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, Number of departures
Change
'000
%
1992
2,276.3
8.4
1993
2,267.1
-0.4
1994
2,354.3
3.8
1995
2,518.6
7.0
1996
2,732.0
8.5
1997
2,932.8
7.3
1998
3,161.1
7.8
1999
3,210.0
1.5
2000
3,498.2
9.0
2001
3,442.6
-1.6
2002
3,461.0
0.5
Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).

Australians visit a wide variety of destinations abroad. The most popular main destination is New Zealand, accounting for 17% of Australians travelling abroad in 2002. The next most popular destinations were the United Kingdom and the United States of America, each accounting for 9% of Australians travelling abroad in 2002 (table 21.15).

Over two-thirds (68%) of Australians travelling abroad in 2002 went for a holiday. 'Holiday' (which includes visiting friends and relatives) was the main purpose of trip for Australians travelling to all destinations.

Australians travelling for 'business' reasons accounted for 20% of outbound travellers. Their main destinations were New Zealand and the United States of America.

21.15 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By country/region of main destination and main purpose of trip - 2002
Main purpose of trip
Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total
Change
on 2001
Country/region of main destination
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
Fiji
11.1
107.2
0.9
0.3
8.8
128.3
36.2
New Zealand
121.9
415.2
5.6
4.3
50.3
597.3
-0.4
Other Oceania
24.1
90.2
13.9
3.0
9.1
140.4
-9.7
Italy
8.4
59.1
0.5
2.0
5.0
75.0
0.5
United Kingdom
41.9
237.6
12.5
4.0
22.3
318.3
5.8
Other Europe
52.8
229.7
5.7
6.3
26.9
321.4
2.8
Indonesia
28.3
191.4
6.3
1.7
14.0
241.7
-16.3
Malaysia
28.3
70.6
3.2
0.6
6.9
109.5
-6.0
Philippines
8.5
44.7
0.6
0.3
6.3
60.3
7.5
Singapore
55.5
72.5
7.2
1.8
12.2
149.2
-6.9
Thailand
23.5
134.9
1.5
0.7
8.3
168.9
1.7
China (excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.)
46.3
73.8
3.5
2.5
10.8
136.9
25.3
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
38.9
83.6
7.0
1.2
9.8
140.5
-6.1
Other Asia
71.7
207.4
13.8
7.0
24.1
323.9
5.9
United States of America
95.0
167.7
9.2
4.6
22.6
299.1
1.9
Other America
13.9
75.1
2.5
1.6
9.2
102.3
-2.8
Middle East and North Africa
11.5
56.4
4.4
1.4
9.7
83.5
0.7
Other Africa
14.0
40.3
2.8
0.7
4.4
62.2
23.2
Not stated
0.2
1.5
0.3
-
0.2
2.3
-89.1
Total
695.7
2,359.0
101.4
44.0
261.0
3,461.0
0.5
(a) Includes those attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.

In 2002, 12% of Australians travelling abroad stayed less than a week (predominantly business travellers), while almost a third (32%) stayed away for at least a month (table 21.16).

21.16 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, 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
228.0
159.6
5.1
2.8
19.7
415.3
12.0
1 week and under 2 weeks
218.5
665.8
8.7
9.4
106.0
1,008.5
29.1
2 weeks and under 1 month
135.8
719.4
9.7
9.2
50.1
924.2
26.7
1 month and under 2 months
52.8
463.8
12.0
5.5
33.1
567.2
16.4
2 months and under 3 months
20.3
148.9
8.6
2.5
13.3
193.7
5.6
3 months and under 6 months
21.6
121.8
18.8
4.7
16.5
183.5
5.3
6 months and under 12 months
18.6
79.7
38.3
9.8
22.2
168.6
4.9
Total
695.7
2,359.0
101.4
44.0
261.0
3,461.0
100.0
(a) Includes those attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.

The highest number of Australian resident departures in 2002 was in December (11%) (table 21.17). December 2002 was also the month in which most inbound visitors arrived (table 21.10). February 2002 recorded the lowest number of Australian resident departures (6%) for abroad (table 21.17).

21.17 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By month of departure and main purpose of trip - 2002
Main purpose of trip
Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total
Proportion
of total
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
January
50.4
151.9
12.0
5.2
19.9
239.5
6.9
February
52.8
134.7
8.9
2.1
20.2
218.6
6.3
March
63.6
187.2
7.6
2.5
22.6
283.5
8.2
April
66.7
172.9
8.6
3.3
16.4
267.9
7.7
May
63.3
200.3
9.0
2.3
19.6
294.5
8.5
June
64.1
217.7
8.1
4.5
24.2
318.6
9.2
July
57.7
223.5
8.7
3.8
25.0
318.7
9.2
August
55.5
195.3
8.6
4.1
19.8
283.4
8.2
September
61.9
251.1
6.7
6.4
25.5
351.6
10.2
October
64.6
172.6
8.1
1.9
21.2
268.4
7.8
November
61.1
160.0
7.5
3.6
19.0
251.1
7.3
December
34.0
291.8
7.4
4.3
27.6
365.1
10.5
Total
695.7
2,359.0
101.4
44.0
261.0
3,461.0
100.0
(a) Includes those attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.



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