International tourist arrivals increase 11% year on year with Asia leading that growth

16 February, 2017

Tourism Australia has reported 8.3 million international arrivals to Australia in 2016, an increase of 11% year-on-year.

Managing Director John O'Sullivan reported that tourism arrivals from key markets in Asia all posted double digit increases in 2016. This double digit growth was led by a 22.3% increase from South Korea and 22.7% from Japan, with China coming in third at 16.9%.

The growth can be attributed to continued capacity increases by existing carriers in the market as well as new entrants, such as Japan's ANA and China's Xiamen Airlines, commencing services to Australia.

Asian arrivals growth to Australia for 2016 by selected markets includes:

  • Japan: +22.7%;
  • South Korea: 23.7%;
  • China: +16.9% year-on-year;
  • Malaysia: 14.3%;
  • Indonesia: 13.8%;
  • India: 11.3%;
  • Singapore: 10.7%.

Tourism Australia reports that traffic growth was primarily driven by the leisure segment (+13.7%), in particular by holiday arrivals (+21.6%). All Australia's top 15 international markets posted growth in 2016, with nine markets recording double digit increases.

New Zealand remained Australia's largest market by visitor arrivals in 2016, with 1.3 million visitors, an increase of 2.7% year-on-year.

www.tourism.australia.com