The Blue Swan Daily, 16 May 2018 – Australia‘s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo stated (15-May-2018) Australia is “welcoming record numbers of international tourists who are staying longer and spending more”. Australia welcomed a record 9.02 million international visitors in 12 months ending Mar-2018, an increase of 7.7% year-on-year, with visitor spend of a record AUD41 billion (USD30.6 billion). Mr Ciobo noted that China is leading the record breaking surge, recently overtaking New Zealand to become Australia’s largest source of international tourists. China now accounts for one in six international visitors to Australia, and more than a quarter of total international visitor spend. Mr Ciobo noted that Australia’s open capacity aviation arrangement with China and the recent China-Australia Year of Tourism is driving growth from this key market. Australia is also enjoying strong growth from the US with a record 9.2% increase in US visitors during the past 12 months. Read more…
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association
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