Number of international visitors increase, spend more

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Created on Thursday, 08 December 2011 13:00

Written by Editorial staff

A recent study has shown that the number of international visitors has increased over the last year - and that many are spending more during their stay.

The joint survey by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and Tourism Research Australia is conducted on a quarterly basis and measures a range of habits exhibited by foreign nationals temporarily entering the country.

The International Visitors Survey shows nearly 5.5 million individuals visited the island continent in the 12 months before September 30 2011 - an increase of 1 per cent over this same time last year.

This is despite the apparent strength of the Australian dollar over other currencies and the difficult economic environment being experienced in many other countries.

The report goes on to show that visitors have increased their spending by five per cent over the same time period, hitting an average of $3,380 per person in 2011.

Tourists also spent more time in Australia, with the number of "visitor nights" registered at 162 million showing growth of 4 per cent in this measure.

The top three reasons for entering the country remained the same as last years, with 2.4 million indicating they were on holiday, 1.3 million here to see relatives and loved ones and nearly 900,000 on business.

Approximately 64 per cent of all visitors had previously travelled to Australia - perhaps demonstrating the strong tourist appeal exhibited by the country's many attractions.

Researchers have estimated that the value added to the local economy by these trips have amounted to $24 billion over the 12 months to September 30 2011 - an increase of 3.7 per cent - as foreign consumers enjoyed the goods and services they found on offer.

This just goes to show the immense value added to many business sectors by international visitors - and serves to highlight the importance of making sure that they are able to enjoy the full length of their stay.

Australian migration agents are able to give businesses and tourism groups the qualified advice they need to be able to deliver their clients with a trip that is hassle free.

Information on visa applications, submission guidelines and document requirements can all be explained in clear terms - helping to remove some of the confusion that may result from the large volumes of material available on the subject.

Migration consultants offer business owners involved in hospitality and tourism a valuable service that can be tailored to suit their individual needs - allowing them to give their customers the stress-free trip they are looking for.