Australian Tourism figures fall short in 2003

New figures confirm that despite a strong recovery in international tourist arrivals in the last quarter of 2003 Australia failed to make up the shortfall for the calendar year, with a two per cent drop in international visitors expected for 2003.

Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) Managing Director, Ken Boundy said the latest preliminary estimates, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Tuesday, indicate that tourist arrivals to Australia increased by 5.7 per cent for the month of December, indicating that international visitors numbers fell by around 2 per cent in 2003 (compared to the previous year) to 4.74 million.

Mr Boundy said the rebound in international tourist numbers, which began in September 2003, has resulted in a 'better than expected' outcome for the industry. 

"Australia had strong start to the year in 2003, with arrivals up by 5 per cent in January, however consumer reluctance to travel in the months that followed due to Iraq and SARS saw arrivals fall for seven consecutive months including a 21 per cent fall in May," Mr Boundy said.

"Recovery efforts overseas resulted in a turnaround in September when visitor numbers increased by 8 per cent for the month.

"Similar increases were recorded in October (up 2%) and November (up 8%) boosted by the influx of fans for the Rugby World Cup tournament.

"Further increases in December have helped to close the gap on the drop in overseas visitors for the year; however there is still some work to be done to reach the record 5 million visitors achieved in 2000."

Mr Boundy said a number of Australia's key markets have performed well in 2003, however recovery efforts would continue in those markets where visitor numbers are yet to return to 2002 levels.

"The latest figures indicate that New Zealand, UK, Germany and Korea finished the year with positive growth, highlighting that Australia continues to be a popular holiday choice for travellers from these markets," Mr Boundy said.

"Other key markets such as the United States, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China are steadily rebounding from downturns experienced earlier in 2003, and the ATC will continue to roll out marketing programs to ensure recovery continues this year.

"The ATC has a global program of marketing activities planned for its major tourist markets in the first half of 2004, to further stimulate travel bookings to Australia in the coming months.

"Australia's four Tourism Ambassadors will also have a role to play in helping to boost visitor numbers this year - with Steve Waugh, Megan Gale, Ian Thorpe and Layne Beachley working with the ATC in their respective markets to raise the profile of Australia as a holiday destination."