International visitors spent a record $41 billion this year

The International Visitor Survey (IVS) has shown a record $41.2 billion was spent in Australia by more than eight million international visitors during the record 268 million nights they stayed during the year ending September 2017.

This strong growth is being led by key Asian markets including China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Japan. During the past 12 months Australia welcomed 1.33 million Chinese visitors, just shy of our largest arrivals market of New Zealand with 1.35 million.

“The Turnbull Coalition Government is working to maximise the potential of China – Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable inbound tourism market,” said Minister for Tourism Steve Ciobo.

“The 2017 China-Australia Year of Tourism, an open capacity aviation agreement with China and significant visa reform, have contributed to the 13 per cent growth in spend by Chinese visitors. This will continue to grow with eight new aviation routes between China and Australia planned for the next 12 months.”

Another market that has seen consistent growth is the United States, with visitors and spending both growing by 40 percent over the last three years. Spending by international visitors remains strong across the states and territories with Tasmania seeing a 33 per cent increase and ACT a 27 per cent increase in the year ending September 2017.