Fewer Aussies playing in their own backyard

SYDNEY – Latest published research shows that Australia’s home-grown tourism industry is doing it tough.

Four percent fewer Australians took overnight trips in the year to September 2008.

The report, Travel By Australians, September Quarter 2008, shows that domestic tourism was facing significant pressures in the 12 months to September 2008, well before the current economic factors came into play, Tourism Australia managing director Geoff Buckley said.

Buckley said the decline in domestic tourism could be attributed to several factors.

“These factors included a stronger Australian dollar, which at its peak was almost dollar for dollar against the US currency – making overseas travel a very attractive option. At the same time we had higher petrol prices which affected the domestic drive market.”

Australian visitors to the Gold Coast declined 11.9 percent and Australian visitor spend on the Gold Coast decreased 4.3 percent in the year to September 2008.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said it was “the toughest period for tourism in recent times”.

“Today’s numbers have been forecast by Gold Coast Tourism for some time, travel by Australians has weakened across the board with state and national numbers reflecting significant declines,” he said.

New South Wales Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said, “It’s clear that Australians overall are falling out of the habit of taking a holiday at home.”

The Travel by Australians, September 2008 Quarter report, is available from Tourism Research Australia and can be downloaded at www.tra.australia.com or email [email protected].

by John Alwyn-Jones