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

In 2003 there were over 1.35 million more international visitors to Australia than Australians travelling abroad (tables 21.4 and 21.11). Consequently, the net contribution of the travel item to Australia's balance on current account was positive in 2002-03 (table 30.26, Chapter 30 International accounts and trade, the difference between travel services exports and imports).


21.11 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, Number of departures
Departures
Change(a)
'000
%
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
2003
3,388.0
-2.1
(a) From previous year.

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


Australians visit a wide variety of destinations abroad. During 2003 the most popular destination was New Zealand, accounting for 20% of Australians travelling abroad. The next most popular destinations were the United Kingdom and the United States of America, accounting for approximately 9% each (table 21.12).

'Holiday' (which includes visiting friends and relatives) was the main purpose of trip for over two-thirds (69%) of Australians travelling to all destinations in 2003.

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


21.12 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By country/region of main destination and main purpose of trip - 2003
Main purpose of trip
Business(a)
Holiday(b)
Employment
Education
Other and not stated
Total
Change from 2002
Country/region of main destination
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
’000
%
Fiji
12.6
123.4
1.3
0.5
7.4
145.2
13.2
New Zealand
143.3
465.8
6.5
4.7
42.5
662.8
11.0
Other Oceania
25.0
101.2
13.1
2.4
9.9
151.6
8.0
Italy
9.2
53.9
0.5
2.1
5.2
70.9
-5.5
United Kingdom
40.4
235.3
13.3
4.3
19.7
312.9
-1.7
Other Europe
53.0
227.4
4.3
6.2
23.5
314.4
-2.2
Indonesia
23.7
147.5
3.5
1.0
10.7
186.4
-22.9
Malaysia
27.4
63.4
3.6
1.1
5.5
100.9
-7.9
Philippines
7.6
45.7
0.3
0.2
5.6
59.6
-1.3
Singapore
46.2
61.0
6.6
1.6
8.8
124.3
-16.7
Thailand
21.8
95.9
1.9
1.0
7.6
128.2
-24.1
China (excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.)
40.5
60.8
2.8
2.1
7.9
114.2
-16.6
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
33.6
67.8
5.8
1.1
6.7
115.0
-18.2
Other Asia
69.8
222.4
15.4
7.4
24.1
339.1
4.7
United States of America
97.7
166.6
8.6
6.1
17.3
296.3
-1.0
Other America
14.7
82.4
2.1
2.0
7.5
108.7
6.3
Middle East and North Africa
9.8
62.0
6.4
0.9
8.6
87.8
5.2
Other Africa
15.2
43.5
3.2
0.9
5.0
67.9
9.2
Not stated
0.4
1.2
0.3
0.0
0.0
1.9
-17.7
Total
692.1
2,327.1
99.6
45.8
223.4
3,388.0
-2.1
(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, 2003.


In 2003, 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. Of the people staying away for more than a month nearly three-quarters (73%) were on 'holiday' (table 21.13).


21.13 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, 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
233.4
156.6
3.9
2.8
17.7
414.4
12.2
1 week and under 2 weeks
207.7
626.3
8.8
8.3
79.9
930.9
27.5
2 weeks and under 1 month
140.9
745.5
10.3
10.6
45.5
952.9
28.1
1 month and under 2 months
47.5
460.9
12.0
4.6
30.1
555.1
16.4
2 months and under 3 months
21.2
143.6
8.7
2.5
12.2
188.0
5.6
3 months and under 6 months
20.6
115.3
17.0
5.5
14.6
173.1
5.1
6 months and under 12 months
20.9
78.9
38.9
11.5
23.3
173.6
5.1
Total
692.1
2,327.1
99.6
45.8
223.4
3,388.0
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, 2003.


The highest proportion (12%) of Australian resident departures in 2003 was in December (table 21.14). December 2003 was also the month in which most inbound visitors arrived (table 21.7). February 2003 recorded the lowest number of Australian resident departures (6%) for abroad.


21.14 AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD, By month of departure and main purpose of trip - 2003
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
47.1
161.9
12.2
5.0
22.9
249.1
7.4
February
55.5
133.1
8.5
1.8
17.5
216.4
6.4
March
60.5
154.4
7.8
2.4
20.4
245.5
7.2
April
41.8
160.9
7.6
3.8
18.0
232.1
6.9
May
54.9
153.4
8.2
2.3
17.4
236.3
7.0
June
60.5
187.7
8.0
3.3
16.1
275.6
8.1
July
59.5
209.6
7.9
3.8
15.7
296.5
8.8
August
62.7
201.4
9.1
5.9
17.9
296.9
8.8
September
69.4
250.2
7.5
7.8
19.5
354.3
10.5
October
72.7
177.8
8.3
3.0
16.0
277.9
8.2
November
72.9
186.0
7.6
3.3
17.4
287.2
8.5
December
34.6
350.7
7.0
3.3
24.6
420.2
12.4
Total
692.1
2,327.1
99.6
45.8
223.4
3,388.0
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, 2003.



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