Tourism Figures Show need for budget support

The gap between the number of international arrivals and Australians travelling overseas has hit a new high, showing the need for continuing support for the tourism industry in tonight's federal budget, according to peak national industry body, Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).

The ABS has today released the Overseas Arrivals and Departures statistics for March, which show international arrivals to Australia down 5.1% compared to the same month last year, while departures fell 4.7%, as Australians deferred travel to the extended Easter break in April.

Over the year to the end of March, continuing economic weakness has seen UK arrivals down 6.8% and US arrivals down 3.8%, while the 9.6% growth in Australians travelling internationally is almost four times faster than the 2.5% growth in arrivals.

TTF Chief Executive John Lee said this emphasises the need for at least maintaining tourism funding in tonight's budget, stating "we must continue to promote Australia as a destination as we face challenging conditions in some of key source markets.

"But we also need to take steps to ensure that our products and experiences are up to scratch so that we can offer potential visitors a compelling and competitive offering.

"There is significant investment in new attractions and tourism infrastructure like convention centres going on in our regional competitors, and Australia must continue to develop its product to ensure we can offer a value proposition - especially with the strength of the dollar.

"In addition, we're calling for continuing funding for the development of new tourism product and for the refurbishing of existing product to help Australian operators stay up to date.

"We also need to remove unnecessary barriers to entry for tourists from some of our key growth markets who have to go through a time-consuming and expensive visa process."

23rd March 2010 - UPTURN IN DOMESTIC TOURISM 

14th May 2009 - TOURISM SHOULD FOCUS ON QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY