SYDNEY – The latest Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that tourist arrivals were down by 3.8 percent in the 12 months to January 2009.
Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Matt Hingerty said that while any drop was bad, these figures needed to be seen in context.
“While the overall trend for tourist arrivals is down, we are pleased to see that the OAD figures are in line with Tourism Forecasting Committee forecasts,†Hingerty said.
The most recent TFC forecasts showed total inbound visitor arrivals were expected to drop by 4.2 percent in 2009.
“We remain pessimistic about the next six months,†Hingerty said.
The ATEC MD said that while key markets such as Japan and Korea had plummeted by 28.9 percent and 32.3 percent respectively, the figures did give some cause for optimism.
He said several markets, including Hong Kong, Germany and Australia’s largest source market New Zealand had recorded small increases in the latest release, showing there were still pockets of growth in certain sectors.
“Nevertheless, given the extremely poor year we have just experienced, we appeal to the Rudd Government not to raise the Passenger Movement Charge in the forthcoming Federal Budget,†Hingerty said
