Released 25/07/2017
The ACT has recorded its highest-ever number of Australians visiting the capital with a 12.8 per cent increase for the year ending December 2016.
Significantly, the 2.49 million visitors also spent more money while here – contributing $1.454 billion in domestic overnight visitor expenditure to the ACT economy – up 8.8 per cent from 2015 figures, according to Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey released today.
Increases were led by strong growth in the holiday market (up 32.5 per cent) and the business sector (up 14.6 per cent) compared to the previous year.
The ACT’s growth was well above the national average (4.2 per cent) and the third highest growth nationally behind the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The ACT Government, through VisitCanberra, continues to work with the tourism industry using its One Good Thing After Another marketing platform to attract more visitors with the aspirational goal of growing the ACT’s overnight visitor expenditure to $2.5 billion by 2020. Tracking at $1.9 billion (when combined with the latest international figures), this overnight expenditure aspiration is within reach.
These figures complement excellent international numbers to Canberra, boosted even further by the start of Singapore Airlines direct international flights from last September. Low cost domestic flights to Melbourne are now also in place, with work being done to secure a similar low cost service to Adelaide.
Canberra’s tourism industry is a shining light of our economic diversification strategy. Tourism to Canberra continues to grow with new investment in hotel stock, blockbuster exhibitions, tour businesses and aviation capacity.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
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