Visiting mates drive domestic growth

Visiting mates drive domestic growth
By admin


Travelling to visit family and friends has been an instrumental force in driving domestic tourism growth, which this year hit a record contribution of $53.7 billion to the economy, a new visitor study reveals.

Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) for the year ending September 2014 was up 9% to 28.8 million, while nights increased by 9% to 98 million and spend to $12.4 billion, up 8% according to the tourism research Australia National Visitor Survey data released today.

Growth for paid accommodation options including hotels remained flat as a result of high VFR travellers choosing to stay at the home of the friend or relative, which increased 9% to 114.3 million.

The study showed VFR share of domestic overnight trips went up 3% to 36%, while travelling domestically for a holiday fell from 4% to 41%, thereby also decreasing holiday spend by 2% to 26.4%.

“Domestic holiday trips for travellers under the age of 45 years have not experienced growth since 2009, but these travellers are taking an increasing number of trips to visit friends and relatives (up 27% over the past 5 years). They are also spending an increasing share of their time (nights) on holidays abroad. Between June 2009 and June 2014, their share of holiday nights spent overseas increased from 32% to 41%,” according to the study.

While the drive market is primarily the key driver in domestic overnight trips, the study found growth particularly evident in Victoria where drive trips increased 12% to 14.9 million.

Trips involving flights also went up and now attributes to 24% of domestic overnight trips at 19 million.

The Sunshine Coast reported an 11% increase to 2.9 million domestic visitors, largely attributed to Victorians choosing to fly to warmer climates in the winter months and interstate market from Brisbane up 27.9%.

Latest News