ABS records impressive growth in Australian tourism

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Created on Sunday, 29 December 2013 22:25

Written by Editorial staff

If you are thinking of temporarily or permanently relocating, be it for a working holiday or to start a new life in a different country, then chances are Australia is on your list of possible destinations.

"The land down under" has long been a popular destination for migrants, especially those that reside in cooler Northern hemisphere climates. Offering warm weather, varying natural landscapes and a booming economy, Australia does seem to tick all the boxes.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on December 19 served to further highlight the popularity of the country.

According to the 2012-13 edition of the Tourism Satellite Account tourism contributed more money - $115 million per day - to the economy than agriculture, mining and manufacturing industries.

"Tourism GDP grew 3.7 per cent during 2012-13, compared to 2.4 per cent for the economy as a whole," ABS spokesperson Sean Thompson said in a statement.

This increase can largely be attributed to increased visits from international tourists, with a rising number of people from abroad visiting Australia.

"International tourism was particularly solid, up 5.7 per cent and showed the strongest growth we've seen since 2006-07," Mr Thompson said.

"The increase was mostly due to strong growth in the number of international visitors (up to 4.9 per cent) - while the average spend in Australia on international trips was largely unchanged on the previous year at approximately $4,300 per trip."

The popularity of Australia as a tourist destination could be attributed to a large number of factors. From natural treasures such as the Great Barrier Reef to vibrant, forward-thinking metropolises like Sydney and Melbourne, the continent really does seem to offer it all.

As more tourists flock to Australia's shores, many may be enchanted by its offerings and look to make the move down under more permanent.

If you're considering coming to Australia on a working holiday or moving for good, then you may want to enlist the help of an experienced migration agent.

Judging by the large number of tourists to visit the country, there are also a large number of migrants looking to call Australia home. Faced with competition and tight migration laws, seeking the support of an agent can be an excellent way to ensure your application is as good as can be.