Fewer tourists travel Down Under
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International travellers totalled 451,800 in October 2008,according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, compared with 468,700 for thesame month in 2007.
The biggest slump was from Japanese tourists, with 12,600fewer visiting – a drop of 27%. There were also fewer travellers from the US, Chinaand South Korea.Trans-Tasman arrivals from New Zealand however, rose by 9%.
Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) Executive Director,Olivia Wirth, said the figures were no surprise, and illustrated that theglobal financial crisis was hitting hard. She said New Zealand holidaymakers were the “shining light”, spurredon by increased flights to Australia.
“It seems this improved availability has saved inboundtourism from an even more drastic collapse,” Ms Wirth was quoted as saying. Sheadded that the figures could be the start of a trend towards shorter, moreregional travel, rather than long-haul holidays.
“While we must maintain Australia’s presenceinternationally, these figures show just how crucial it is for the prosperityof our tourism industry that Australians who can manage it actually have adomestic holiday,” Ms Wirth concluded.
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