Returned Australian Travellers (Survey of)

NAME OF ORGANISATION
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

OVERVIEW
The Survey of Returned Australian Travellers (SORAT) is a sample survey conducted every 5-8 years by mail and includes approximately 600 individuals per month. It collects information on expenditure by Australian travellers abroad and any income earned. These data are required to compile accurate balance of payments statistics on travel debits.

PURPOSE
The SORAT surveys a sample of Australian travellers returning from overseas travel. It collects the purpose of the travel, their expenditure and any income, while overseas. The survey is used to compile an average per capita expenditure (PCE) of Australian residents while overseas. This PCE is then multiplied by overseas arrivial data contained in Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (ABS Cat. No. 3401.0, 3402.0 and 3404.0) to produce a estimate of other travel debits for the balance of payments.

SCOPE
The scope of the SORAT covers expenditure by Australian travellers abroad and any income earned whilst abraod. A sample survey is conducted by mail and includes approximately 600 individuals per month (a 1 in 300 sample).

DATA DETAIL

Conceptual framework
The conceptual framework used in Australia's Balance of Payment, including the SORAT is substantially based on the framework provided by the International Monetary Fund's "Balance of Payments Manual" (fourth edition, 1978).

Details of the SORAT and its place in the balance of payments are covered in Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia Concepts,Sources and Methods (ABS Cat No 5331.0).

Main outputs
Results of SORAT are incorporated into estimates published in:

International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (ABS Cat No. 5368.0)
Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (ABS Cat No. 5302.0)
Balance of Payments, Australia, Regional Series (ABS Cat No. 5338.0)

Classifications
Country Classification
Expenditure on trip
Income earned while abroad
Purpose of Trip

Other concepts (summary)
Not applicable

GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
Queensland
South Australia
Western Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
ACT

Comments and/or Other Regions
Residents of Norfolk Island and other external territories of Australia are regarded as non-residents.

COLLECTION FREQUENCY
Other

Frequency comments
Survey is run every 5-8 years.

COLLECTION HISTORY
The SORAT survey commenced in respect of July 1991 and was run monthly for the succeeding 12 months, covering the 1991-92 financial and year. The survey was re-run for the 12 months of the 1995-96 finanical year.

DATA AVAILABILITY
No