Tourist spend at record highs

06 Sep 2017 |

The latest International Visitor Survey showing that spending by international tourists is at a record high of $40.6 billion further underlines the opportunities for growth, and employment growth, in the tourism sector, Australian Chamber – Tourism said today.  

Executive Chair of Australian Chamber – Tourism, John Hart, said “While NSW, Victoria and Queensland continue to lead in terms of overall spending figures, growth of more than 20 per cent in both Tasmania and the ACT is a great outcome.”

“These latest figures, combined with tourism’s direct and indirect output of $203.2 billion and the 900,000 Australians employed directly or indirectly in tourism, show that tourism truly is the unsung hero of the Australian economy.

“We cannot simply rest on our laurels. If we get the policy settings right in a highly competitive international market, tourism has enormous potential for future growth. This includes addressing the skills shortages tourism is already facing, the critical need for infrastructure in regional areas and ensuring Tourism Australia is adequately resourced to maintain its marketing effort.

“We congratulate Tourism Australia for its proactive work, launching targeted campaigns aimed at attracting higher yield visitors and looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Tourism Australia under its newly appointed Chair, Bob East.

“In short, the latest International Visitor Survey figures are good news, but all Governments need to work closely with the tourism sector to ensure that they can be even better in the future.  There is so much opportunity awaiting realisation which can be of enormous benefit to jobs and the economy.”

AusChamber Media Contact

P  |  0438 730 772

E  |  [email protected]

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