Tourism Research Australia released (04-Apr-2019) Australia visitor statistics for 2018. Key details include:
- No growth in first time visitors (3.1 million), the lowest growth since 2011. Repeat visitors reached 5.4 million, up 8% year-on-year;
- Fastest growing travel groups were business associates travelling together, increasing 15% to 308,000, and family travelling together with 1.1 million visitors, a 13% increase;
- Holiday visitors increased by 4% during the year to reach 3.9 million, spending a total of AUD16.4 billion (USD11.7 billion), up 5%;
- Visitors travelling to see friends and relatives increased 6% to 2.6 million, spending AUD7.5 billion (USD5.3 billion), up 7%;
- 'Backpacker' visitors fell 4% to 605,000. [more - original PR]