AUSTRALIA RECORDS 16,000 INDIAN VISITORS IN MARCH 2014
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There were 16,000 Indian Visitor Arrivals to Australia during the month of March 2014, bringing the total for the three months (YTD) to March to 43,800, an increase of 10.4 per cent relative to the same period previous year, according to Tourism Australia’s FactSheet. Total arrivals for the year ended (YE) March 2104 were 173,000, an increase of 10.3 per cent relative to the same period previous year. Leisure arrivals during this period increased by 19.6 per cent. This makes India the 11th largest inbound market for arrivals as at YE March 2014.
For 12 months ending December 2013, Indian visitors contributed A$720 million to Australia’s total expenditure. Average expenditure for Indian visitors was A$4,546. For 12 months ending December 2013, Indian visitors spent a total of 9.5 million nights in Australia. The average length of stay for all visitors from India was 60 nights, much higher than Global average of 36 nights. Indian leisure visitors stayed an average of 51 nights.
In the year ending March 2014, a high proportion of Indian visitors visited Australia for leisure (112,420). Other visitors travelled for business (24,080), education (11,200) and other purposes (25,240). Leisure visitors travelled on holiday (38,020) or to visit friends and relatives (74,400).
Participants in the Aussie Specialist Program have been identified as strongly promoting and developing Australia as a holiday destination. As of March 2014, Tourism Australia recorded 908 qualified ASP agents and 3488 active ASP agents. As of March 2014, agents under the Preferred Agency Scheme (PAS) run in collaboration with DIAC saw 93 agencies participating and 170 active agents.
The Tourism Forecasting Committee (TFC) is forecasting 179,000 visitors from India for 2013-14, a 9.3 per cent increase over 2012-13. There were 164,000 actual arrivals in 2012-13, 7.5 per cent increase over 2011-12. Arrivals from India are expected to perform well with an average annual financial year growth rate of 7.2 per cent through to the financial year 2021-22.