1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 21/01/2005   
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Contents >> Tourism >> Domestic tourism

Australian residents aged 15 years and over spent an estimated 294.1 million nights visiting other parts of the country in 2003 (table 21.15). Each trip took an average of 4.0 nights and each person in the population (aged 15 years and over) made an average of 4.7 trips during 2003. Residents of the Australian Capital Territory were the most frequent travellers (averaging 6.7 trips per person), while residents of the Northern Territory tended to stay away for the longest period (averaging 7.2 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 total number of domestic visitor nights fell 2% in 2003. New South Wales, Victoria, Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory each recorded declines (down 5%, 3%, 18% and 3% respectively). Tasmania showed the strongest growth (10%) in 2003, following negative growth prior to 2001 (table 21.16).

Although the number of visitor nights has fluctuated since 1999, the average annual growth rate between 1999 and 2003 was approximately zero. Tasmania had the highest average annual growth rate (3%) between 1999 and 2003. The Australian Capital Territory had the lowest average annual growth rate (-3%) between 1999 and 2003.


21.15 PERSON TRIPS AND NIGHTS AWAY(a), By state/territory of origin - 2003
Estimated resident population at 30 June 2003(b)
Person trips
Average trips
Total nights away
Average nights away
Origin
’000
’000
per person
’000
per person trip
New South Wales
5,353
25,304
4.7
95,965
3.8
Victoria
3,959
18,672
4.7
73,046
3.9
Queensland
3,007
14,161
4.7
57,413
4.1
South Australia
1,239
5,122
4.1
22,313
4.4
Western Australia
1,554
6,208
4.0
27,484
4.4
Tasmania
380
1,774
4.7
7,028
4.0
Northern Territory
148
634
4.3
4,572
7.2
Australian Capital Territory
259
1,747
6.7
6,289
3.6
Australia
(c)15,681
73,621
4.7
294,112
4.0
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) 'Australian Demographic Statistics, June Quarter 2003' (3101.0).
(c) Includes Other territories.

Source: Tourism Research Australia, 'National Visitor Survey', 2003.

21.16 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
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
2003
88,188
54,892
78,839
21,146
29,997
9,647
6,141
5,235
294,112
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Includes unspecified and offshore visits that could not be allocated to a state/territory.

Source: Tourism Research Australia, 'National Visitor Survey'.


'Holiday/leisure' was the main purpose of 46% of domestic visitor nights in 2003. 'Holiday/leisure' accounted for the largest proportion of visitor nights in almost every state and territory. The exception was the Australian Capital Territory, where 'visiting friends/relatives' accounted for the largest share of visitor nights in 2003 (table 21.17).

New South Wales was the most popular destination in 2003, accounting for almost a third of all visitor nights (30%). Queensland was the next most popular destination, with over a quarter of all visitor nights (27%).


21.17 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory of destination and main purpose of visit - 2003
Business
Holiday/leisure
Visiting friends/relatives
Other
Total(b)
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
New South Wales
12,925
39,771
31,042
3,502
88,188
Victoria
7,496
24,872
19,923
1,923
54,892
Queensland
9,683
39,759
24,484
3,660
78,839
South Australia
3,705
8,645
7,046
1,070
21,146
Western Australia
5,086
13,226
8,824
1,175
29,997
Tasmania
1,207
4,829
2,605
488
9,647
Northern Territory
1,448
2,635
1,056
338
6,141
Australian Capital Territory
1,239
1,153
2,566
252
5,235
Australia(c)
42,805
134,900
97,544
12,409
294,112
(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: Tourism Research Australia, 'National Visitor Survey', 2003.


In 2003 the most frequently used accommodation by domestic travellers was the property of friends or relatives (40% of visitor nights), followed by hotels, resorts, motels and motor inns (25%) (table 21.18).


21.18 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), Type of accommodation used and state/territory of destination - 2003
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.(b)
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
Hotel, resort, motel, motor inn
22,124
12,298
21,195
4,803
6,548
2,655
1,611
1,792
73,026
Guest house/B&B
910
853
283
339
149
268
10
8
2,819
Self-catering cottage/apartment
7,790
4,172
11,391
1,477
2,619
717
182
286
28,634
Caravan park or commercial camping ground
10,109
5,418
7,725
2,619
3,385
597
678
101
30,643
Caravan or camping on private property
3,530
2,013
2,889
1,203
1,828
627
873
103
13,066
Friends’ or relatives’ property
36,882
25,134
29,831
8,241
10,966
3,564
1,467
2,675
118,760
Own property (e.g. holiday house)
3,169
2,530
1,865
898
922
403
28
4
9,819
Other/not stated(c)
2,726
1,794
2,406
887
1,894
298
627
240
10,888
Total(d)
88,188
54,892
78,839
21,146
29,997
9,647
6,141
5,235
294,112
(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: Tourism Research Australia, 'National Visitor Survey', 2003.


Intrastate visits accounted for 54% of domestic tourism visitor nights in 2003. Intrastate visits were particularly important in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In these states 67%, 61% and 59% respectively of domestic visitor nights spent in the state were by residents of the state (table 21.19).

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 2003 were Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and 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 approximately 1.8 times that of inbound visitor nights.


21.19 VISITOR NIGHTS(a), By state/territory of destination and origin - 2003
Origin
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
Destination
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
New South Wales
53,551
14,080
11,153
2,524
1,771
712
581
3,816
88,188
Victoria
10,186
32,170
4,377
3,896
1,686
1,388
322
867
54,892
Queensland
20,692
13,644
36,819
3,137
1,634
745
1,120
1,049
78,839
South Australia
3,019
3,949
1,443
10,358
1,400
326
480
171
21,146
Western Australia
2,948
3,301
1,475
1,077
20,121
410
471
193
29,997
Tasmania
1,426
3,039
1,234
310
175
3,228
94
141
9,647
Northern Territory
1,293
1,359
546
780
556
131
1,438
38
6,141
Australian Capital Territory
2,850
1,505
365
231
131
85
52
14
5,235
Total(b)
95,965
73,046
57,413
22,313
27,484
7,028
4,572
6,289
294,112
(a) Australian residents aged 15 years and over.
(b) Includes other and not stated.

Source: Tourism Research Australia, 'National Visitor Survey', 2003.


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