Australia has reported a 40% year-on-year slump in visitor numbers for December 2022, according to travel expert Simon Calder writing in the (London) Independent.
The figure coincides with the first anniversary of Australia reopening its borders to overseas visitors after two years of Covid restrictions and lockdowns.
The top source locations for those that did visit the country were New Zealand, the UK, the US and India.
There were still 400,000 UK visitors during the month and 700,000 from New Zealand and more than 300,000 – each – from India and the US.
A big reason for the drop off was China remaining closed for outbound and inbound travel. With that market reopening, forecasts are better and at least a 30% month-on-month rise is expected to be seen in January’s visitor figures for Australia.
Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison told the Independent: “After a period of significant challenge for the tourism industry right around the world, people have emerged in 2023 with a huge appetite for travel. We are optimistic for the year ahead with some early positive signs being reported across the industry.”
Australia launched its first global tourism advertising and marketing campaign – aimed at attracting international visitors – for six years last October; with the tagline ‘Come and Say G’day’.
Just this week, the government of Western Australia launched a trade mission to Ireland and the UK looking for workers in the hospitality and tourism sector ahead of an expected busy year for tourism.
