1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
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Contents >> Tourism >> International outbound tourism

In 2001-02 there were over 1.4 million more international visitors to Australia than Australians travelling abroad (tables 22.7 and 22.14). Consequently, tourism continues to improve the net contribution of the travel item to Australia's balance on current account (in table 30.8 of International accounts and trade, the difference between travel services credits and debits).


22.14 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD,
Number of departures
Change
no.
%
1991-92
2,173,453
2.7
1992-93
2,299,504
5.8
1993-94
2,303,964
0.2
1994-95
2,421,983
5.1
1995-96
2,624,359
8.4
1996-97
2,837,207
8.1
1997-98
3,031,897
6.9
1998-99
3,188,692
5.2
1999-2000
3,332,258
4.5
2000-01
n.y.a.
n.y.a.
2001-02
3,367,870
(a)1.1
(a) Percentage change calculated on 1999-2000. Overseas departures data for 2000-01 are not yet available due to delays in processing passenger cards.

Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0).


Australians travel abroad to visit a wide variety of destinations. As table 22.15 shows, the most popular main destination is New Zealand, accounting for 18% of Australian residents visiting other countries in 2001-02. The next most popular destinations were the United Kingdom (9%) and the United States of America (8%).

Over two-thirds (68%) of Australian residents travelling abroad in 2001-02 went for a holiday. 'Holiday' (which includes those travellers 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 Australian outbound travellers. Their main destinations were New Zealand and the United States of America.


22.15 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By country/region of main destination and main purpose of trip - 2001-02
Main purpose of trip
Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and
not stated
Total
Change on
1999-2000(c)
Country/region of main destination
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
Fiji
9.7
95.9
1.1
0.3
6.3
113.3
5.7
New Zealand
124.2
408.5
5.8
4.4
49.3
592.2
16.9
Other Oceania
22.7
90.5
12.9
2.6
9.4
138.2
-15.2
Italy
9.8
53.7
0.4
1.8
5.2
70.8
9.4
United Kingdom
40.6
230.3
12.7
3.6
20.9
308.0
-6.7
Other Europe
48.1
219.4
6.1
6.3
26.1
305.9
-0.4
Indonesia
27.7
218.4
5.5
2.6
16.8
270.9
5.5
Malaysia
29.2
68.3
3.5
0.7
7.8
109.5
-13.3
Philippines
9.3
42.3
0.5
0.2
6.0
58.3
4.9
Singapore
56.5
83.6
7.2
2.3
13.6
163.2
11.9
Thailand
22.5
128.6
1.6
1.0
9.7
163.4
10.6
China
40.5
65.4
3.5
3.4
8.5
121.3
40.6
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
39.9
84.1
7.1
1.6
9.3
142.0
-5.1
Other Asia
67.6
193.1
12.5
7.0
23.5
303.7
13.4
United States of America
88.5
151.5
9.0
5.5
21.5
276.0
-26.1
Other America
13.8
70.3
2.1
1.2
7.4
94.8
0.9
Middle East and North Africa
11.0
51.3
4.7
1.1
8.8
77.0
0.5
Other Africa
12.4
37.3
1.9
1.1
4.1
56.8
-1.7
Not stated
0.3
1.8
0.2
-
0.2
2.5
-83.3
Total
674.2
2,294.4
98.2
46.6
254.4
3,367.9
1.1
(a) Includes those visitors attending a convention or conference.
(b) Includes those visitors whose main purpose is visiting friends and relatives.
(c) Data for 2000-01 are not yet available, so the percentage change has been calculated on 1999-2000.

Source: ABS data available on request, Overseas Arrivals and Departures Collection.


The long distances Australian residents travel to other countries are reflected in the length of time spent per trip. In 2001-02 only 13% stayed abroad less than a week (predominantly business travellers), while almost a third (32%) stayed away for at least a month (table 22.16).


22.16 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By intended length of stay and main purpose of trip - 2001-02
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
234.7
166.8
5.1
3.5
22.0
432.1
12.8
1 week and under 2 weeks
201.2
669.9
7.5
10.6
100.0
989.2
29.4
2 weeks and under 1 month
124.5
690.0
7.9
10.1
49.7
882.1
26.2
1 month and under 2 months
51.0
435.3
11.7
5.1
29.5
532.5
15.8
2 months and under 3 months
20.7
136.6
9.3
2.8
14.1
183.5
5.4
3 months and under 6 months
21.8
116.2
16.8
5.0
15.7
175.5
5.2
6 months and under 12 months
20.4
79.4
40.1
9.6
23.4
173.0
5.1
Total
674.2
2,294.4
98.2
46.6
254.4
3,367.9
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.


While the number of Australian residents departing for visits abroad varies from month to month, there are not large seasonal fluctuations. The highest number of departures in 2001-02 were in September and December (9.9% each), while February recorded the lowest number of departures (6.5%) (table 22.17).


22.17 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By month of departure and main purpose of trip - 2001-02
Main purpose of trip
Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and not
stated
Total
Proportion
of total
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
2001
July
58.6
217.8
6.7
3.8
26.6
313.5
9.3
August
56.9
200.4
8.1
3.8
22.5
291.7
8.7
September
59.6
236.9
5.4
9.1
22.1
333.0
9.9
October
55.6
159.8
8.7
3.2
19.1
246.5
7.3
November
51.3
148.8
7.1
3.1
17.0
227.4
6.8
December
31.4
266.0
7.9
3.8
24.2
333.2
9.9
2002
January
50.4
151.9
12.0
5.2
19.9
239.5
7.1
February
52.8
134.7
8.9
2.1
20.2
218.6
6.5
March
63.6
187.2
7.6
2.5
22.6
283.5
8.4
April
66.7
172.9
8.6
3.3
16.4
267.9
8.0
May
63.3
200.3
9.0
2.3
19.6
294.5
8.7
June
64.1
217.7
8.1
4.5
24.2
318.6
9.5
Total
674.2
2,294.4
98.2
46.6
254.4
3,367.9
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, June 2002 (3401.0).



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