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Characteristics
There were 4.7 million inbound international visitors in 2003, down 2% from 2002 (table 21.4).
The average annual growth rate for inbound visitors between 1993 and 2003 was 5%. The level of international inbound visitors to Australia increased by 1.7 million (58%) in the decade beginning 1993. Annual growth rates of inbound visitors were strongly positive for most of this period. It is likely events such as the terrorist attacks in the United States of America (September 2001) and Bali (October 2002), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the war in Iraq affected the annual growth rates from 2001 to 2003 and the Asian economic crisis impacted on that for 1998.
21.4 INBOUND VISITORS
|
 | Visitors | Change(a) |
| '000 | % |
|
| 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 |
| 2003 | 4,745.9 | -2.0 |
|
(a) From previous year.
Source: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (3401.0). |
In 2003 New Zealand was Australia's largest source of international visitors, accounting for 18% of total inbound visitors, followed by the United Kingdom (14%) and Japan (13%). 'Holiday' was the main purpose of visit with over two-thirds (71%) of the international visitors. New Zealand was also the main source of visitors for business purposes (26%), while the United Kingdom accounted for 22% of all visitors arriving for employment. Visitors from Asian countries accounted for two-fifths (40%) of all international visitors. They also accounted for just under two-thirds (62%) of all visitors arriving in Australia for 'education' purposes (table 21.5).
21.5 INBOUND VISITORS, By country/region of residence and main purpose of trip - 2003
|
| Main purpose of trip | | |
|
| | |
| Business(a) | Holiday(b) | Employment | Education | Other and not stated | Total visitors | Change from 2002 |
| Country/region of residence | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | % |
|
| New Zealand | 155.8 | 580.5 | 12.4 | 6.8 | 83.6 | 839.1 | 6.2 |
| Other Oceania | 13.8 | 72.2 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 26.6 | 117.4 | 2.2 |
| Germany | 11.8 | 104.5 | 2.2 | 7.1 | 12.2 | 137.9 | 2.3 |
| United Kingdom | 45.3 | 557.5 | 18.4 | 5.5 | 46.2 | 672.8 | 4.7 |
| Other Europe | 41.9 | 282.4 | 10.4 | 22.3 | 44.2 | 401.3 | -0.4 |
| Indonesia | 8.6 | 53.7 | 1.9 | 12.9 | 13.1 | 90.3 | 0.9 |
| Malaysia | 13.5 | 113.5 | 1.3 | 13.6 | 13.7 | 155.6 | -2.1 |
| Singapore | 34.0 | 172.3 | 3.1 | 14.5 | 29.5 | 253.4 | -11.7 |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 15.4 | 91.7 | 0.9 | 10.7 | 10.7 | 129.3 | -14.3 |
| Japan | 38.7 | 525.6 | 3.0 | 20.4 | 40.0 | 627.7 | -12.3 |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 14.3 | 152.3 | 1.3 | 18.6 | 20.7 | 207.3 | 9.3 |
| Taiwan | 4.8 | 67.6 | 0.4 | 5.9 | 9.0 | 87.7 | -9.9 |
| Other Asia | 73.1 | 191.2 | 7.7 | 42.5 | 51.0 | 365.5 | -6.1 |
| United States of America | 87.5 | 247.2 | 15.3 | 29.3 | 42.8 | 422.1 | -2.8 |
| Other America | 14.8 | 79.7 | 2.4 | 6.9 | 11.6 | 115.4 | -5.2 |
| Middle East and North Africa | 5.7 | 36.1 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 7.7 | 52.7 | 2.2 |
| Other Africa | 10.8 | 43.8 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 10.7 | 69.2 | 2.8 |
| Not stated | 0.2 | 0.9 | - | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.3 | -50.5 |
| Total | 590.0 | 3,372.8 | 83.9 | 225.7 | 473.5 | 4,745.9 | -2.0 |
|
(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, 2003. |
In 2003 over half (56%) of international visitors to Australia stayed for less than two weeks. Visitors arriving for 'education' purposes tended to stay relatively long periods (86% of these visitors stayed for a minimum of two weeks and 47% for six months or more in 2003) but their absolute numbers were relatively small. Over three-quarters (76%) of international visitors arriving for business stayed less than two weeks (table 21.6).
21.6 INBOUND VISITORS, By intended length of stay and main purpose of trip - 2003
|
| 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 | 274.3 | 929.8 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 100.5 | 1,320.0 | 27.8 |
| 1 week and under 2 weeks | 175.9 | 921.4 | 11.9 | 22.7 | 215.9 | 1,347.9 | 28.4 |
| 2 weeks and under 1 month | 72.0 | 845.2 | 6.3 | 18.0 | 66.9 | 1,008.4 | 21.2 |
| 1 month and under 2 months | 25.2 | 340.7 | 5.0 | 14.4 | 30.7 | 416.0 | 8.8 |
| 2 months and under 3 months | 12.1 | 106.9 | 4.6 | 13.0 | 11.9 | 148.6 | 3.1 |
| 3 months and under 6 months | 16.6 | 135.2 | 15.1 | 43.6 | 19.5 | 229.9 | 4.8 |
| 6 months and under 12 months | 13.9 | 93.5 | 33.6 | 105.9 | 28.2 | 275.1 | 5.8 |
| Total | 590.0 | 3,372.8 | 83.9 | 225.7 | 473.5 | 4,745.9 | 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, 2003. |
December 2003 accounted for the highest number of visitors (12% of total arrivals) in 2003 and May accounted for the lowest (5% of total arrivals). These were also the months that showed the highest and lowest number of 'holiday' visitors respectively. November had the highest number of 'business' visitors while April had the lowest (table 21.7).
21.7 INBOUND VISITORS, By month and main purpose of trip - 2003
|
| 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 | 37.9 | 273.5 | 7.4 | 30.0 | 47.9 | 396.6 | 8.4 |
| February | 50.1 | 282.7 | 5.9 | 45.4 | 43.4 | 427.5 | 9.0 |
| March | 51.8 | 273.9 | 5.0 | 17.3 | 44.5 | 392.5 | 8.3 |
| April | 35.5 | 236.8 | 4.2 | 9.8 | 35.2 | 321.5 | 6.8 |
| May | 48.7 | 172.0 | 4.3 | 7.9 | 28.0 | 260.9 | 5.5 |
| June | 40.8 | 216.4 | 5.5 | 12.5 | 33.2 | 308.3 | 6.5 |
| July | 53.9 | 269.2 | 8.1 | 42.0 | 42.3 | 415.5 | 8.8 |
| August | 53.1 | 254.7 | 8.1 | 14.0 | 32.4 | 362.2 | 7.6 |
| September | 58.7 | 269.1 | 8.6 | 12.9 | 36.3 | 385.6 | 8.1 |
| October | 57.6 | 309.9 | 9.7 | 16.0 | 42.2 | 435.3 | 9.2 |
| November | 63.0 | 349.7 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 42.3 | 473.3 | 10.0 |
| December | 38.9 | 465.1 | 8.5 | 8.1 | 45.9 | 566.6 | 11.9 |
| Total | 590.0 | 3,372.8 | 83.9 | 225.6 | 473.5 | 4,745.9 | 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 (3401.0). |
In 2003, 35% of all nights spent in Australia by international visitors were spent in New South Wales. Queensland was the next most popular state, accounting for 22%. Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory were the least popular destinations, accounting for 1% and 2% respectively of international visitor nights in 2003 (table 21.8).
21.8 INBOUND VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory and main purpose of trip - 2003
|
| Main purpose of trip | | |
|
| | |
| Business | Visiting friends/relatives | Holiday | All other reasons | Total | Proportion of total |
| ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | ’000 | % |
|
| New South Wales | 2,444 | 6,497 | 15,975 | 17,342 | 42,272 | 35.5 |
| Victoria | 1,917 | 4,908 | 6,201 | 12,968 | 25,998 | 21.8 |
| Queensland | 950 | 5,273 | 14,286 | 6,169 | 26,757 | 22.5 |
| South Australia | 244 | 1,039 | 1,552 | 1,678 | 4,512 | 3.8 |
| Western Australia | 515 | 2,979 | 5,348 | 3,947 | 12,790 | 10.7 |
| Tasmania | 34 | 313 | 504 | 480 | 1,330 | 1.1 |
| Northern Territory | 135 | 271 | 1,761 | 427 | 2,593 | 2.2 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 148 | 218 | 292 | 1,711 | 2,369 | 2.0 |
| Transit in Australia | 9 | 34 | 348 | 78 | 469 | 0.0 |
| Australia | 6,396 | 21,533 | 46,265 | 44,799 | 119,093 | 100.0 |
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(a) All visitors aged 15 years and over.
Source: Tourism Research Australia, 'International Visitor Survey', 2003. |
Expenditure
In 2003 international visitors to Australia spent an average of $4,490 on each trip. Visitors from all other European countries (Other Europe) spent the most, averaging $6,650, followed by those from Germany ($6,412) and the United Kingdom ($5,884). The lowest average expenditure, $2,025 per visitor, was by visitors from New Zealand (table 21.9).
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 2003. Education fees was among the top three expenditure items for visitors from:
- Indonesia (24% of expenditure)
- China (18% of expenditure)
- Thailand (22% of expenditure)
- Malaysia (26% of expenditure)
- Hong Kong (16% of expenditure)
- Singapore (20% of expenditure)
- Other Asia (16% of expenditure).
21.9 AVERAGE VISITOR EXPENDITURE - 2003
|
| 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 | 230 | 477 | 190 | 597 | 355 | 77 | 7 | 91 | 2,025 |
| Germany | 1,172 | 1,820 | 919 | 1,620 | 423 | 98 | 234 | 126 | 6,412 |
| United Kingdom | 975 | 1,845 | 646 | 1,579 | 464 | 148 | 38 | 189 | 5,884 |
| Other Europe | 952 | 1,982 | 799 | 1,745 | 485 | 144 | 331 | 212 | 6,650 |
| Indonesia | 162 | 669 | 312 | 1,316 | 613 | 195 | 1,122 | 380 | 4,767 |
| Malaysia | 295 | 605 | 270 | 869 | 443 | 111 | 959 | 193 | 3,746 |
| Singapore | 237 | 634 | 269 | 938 | 420 | 135 | 714 | 264 | 3,612 |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 428 | 749 | 349 | 1,066 | 475 | 200 | 717 | 423 | 4,407 |
| Japan | 1,627 | 480 | 266 | 579 | 462 | 91 | 194 | 61 | 3,761 |
| Korea, Republic of (South) | 1,076 | 613 | 295 | 979 | 586 | 147 | 618 | 183 | 4,496 |
| Taiwan | 824 | 614 | 269 | 713 | 601 | 128 | 660 | 80 | 3,890 |
| Thailand | 320 | 801 | 266 | 1,296 | 570 | 219 | 1,008 | 146 | 4,626 |
| China (excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.) | 938 | 751 | 401 | 1,369 | 724 | 225 | 1,035 | 339 | 5,781 |
| Other Asia | 378 | 903 | 320 | 962 | 422 | 91 | 642 | 183 | 3,901 |
| United States of America | 1,486 | 1,559 | 481 | 1,155 | 454 | 104 | 299 | 93 | 5,631 |
| Canada | 842 | 1,668 | 613 | 1,397 | 383 | 125 | 214 | 183 | 5,423 |
| Other countries | 389 | 1,384 | 327 | 943 | 586 | 136 | 301 | 348 | 4,414 |
| All countries | 836 | 1,074 | 415 | 1,071 | 468 | 124 | 331 | 171 | 4,490 |
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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.
Source: Tourism Research Australia, 'International Visitor Survey', 2003. |
International visitors whose main purpose of trip was education or employment had the highest average expenditure in 2003 ($12,898 and $9,549 respectively) (table 21.10).
21.10 AVERAGE VISITOR EXPENDITURE, By expenditure item and main purpose of trip - 2003
|
| Main purpose of trip | |
|
| |
| Business | Visiting friends and relatives | Holiday | Education | Employment | All other reasons | Total(a) |
| Expenditure item | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
|
| Package tours | 420 | 182 | 1,237 | 822 | 276 | 534 | 836 |
| Prepaid international airfares | 1,441 | 1,342 | 869 | 999 | 949 | 1,246 | 1,074 |
| Transport(b) | 250 | 264 | 446 | 1,023 | 1,150 | 219 | 415 |
| Food, drink and accommodation | 1,067 | 632 | 898 | 3,649 | 4,259 | 776 | 1,071 |
| Shopping | 390 | 456 | 448 | 857 | 1,221 | 246 | 468 |
| Entertainment and gambling | 110 | 101 | 112 | 322 | 408 | 71 | 124 |
| Education fees | 20 | 61 | 55 | 4,577 | 70 | 181 | 331 |
| Other(c) | 200 | 140 | 94 | 650 | 1,216 | 216 | 171 |
| All items | 3,898 | 3,178 | 4,158 | 12,898 | 9,549 | 3,489 | 4,490 |
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(a) Includes when passenger card not completed (main purpose not defined).
(b) 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.
(c) Includes: phone, Internet, fax and postage; convention registration fees; medical expenses; and other expenses not elsewhere specified.
Source: Tourism Research Australia, 'International Visitor Survey', 2003. |
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