Spending by international backpackers in Australia grew by $494 million in 2006/07 to $3 billion dollars (up 20 per cent), while the number of international backpackers also grew by 8 per cent to 555,900 for the financial year.
The figures, released in the new Tourism Research Australia report, International Visitors in Australia June Quarter 2007, also show that backpackers increased their stay in Australia in 2006/07 – staying for a total of 40.2 million nights (+14 per cent or +5 million nights compared to 2005/06).
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said “backpackers are worth their weight in gold, spending $3 billion in Australia on food, accommodation and entertainment.”
“In the past year the Australian Government has made it easier for young travellers to extend their visit to Australia by combining work with travel through Working Holiday Maker visas,” Fran Bailey said.
“This kind of flexibility is helping to provide backpackers with the funds to stay longer, visit further a field and spend more. Tourism Australia has been promoting Australian holidays to prospective Working Holiday Makers in key markets world-wide ensuring that Australia is a ‘must-visit’ destination.”
The new Working Holiday Visa agreement with the United States will deliver a boon for North American tourism to Australia. Tourism Australia will be undertaking a range of initiatives to promote the new scheme.
“American backpackers will love the flexibility of the new working holiday agreement. I expect thousands more Americans will come to Australia and enjoy a great holiday in Australia,” Fran Bailey said.
Other key results for backpackers visiting Australiain 2006/07 include:
** Backpackers to NSW up 5 per cent to 428,600
** Backpackers to QLD up 3 per cent to 352,300
** Backpackers to SA up 13 per cent to 103,300
** Backpackers from North America up 6 per cent to 68,800
Report by The Mole
