Arrivals climb as China overtakes UK

Arrivals climb as China overtakes UK
By admin


China has overtaken the UK as the second largest source market for Tourism Australia, latest figures have shown.

Arrivals from China in the 12 months ending September climbed 17% to 573,000 with the UK slipping from 595,000 to 558,000.

New Zealand retained the top spot with almost 1.1 million travelling across the Tasman, 30,000 up on the previous 12 months.

Overall visitor numbers increased 3% to almost 5.6 million, according to the quarterly International Visitor Survey.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said international tourism continues to perform strongly with Asia still the "engine room".

"The latest international arrivals data shows continued and steady growth in inbound tourism, with international visitor arrivals, visitor nights and spending all up, both for the quarter and for the past 12 months," he said

"Asia, led by China, continues to be the engine room of international growth. But we're also seeing much more positive numbers coming out of one of our most important traditional markets, the United States, once again demonstrating the importance of having a balanced portfolio approach to our international marketing.

"The growth of leisure travel out of both China and the US is particularly pleasing.

Western Australian, however, warned it was losing market share with a 3% fall in international leisure arrivals.

The state has the second lowest investment in tourism marketing, Tourism Council WA chief executive Evan Hall said.

"International leisure tourism is growing in Queensland and Victoria while WA is sliding backwards," he said. "We desperately need to match the marketing investment of other states to recover lost market share."

Arrivals to WA from the UK and Germany have fallen 7% and 14% respectively while China – where money has been spent – has seen a 34% increase.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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