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The Voice of Australian Tourism

About the Australian Tourism Industry Council

Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) is the national representative body of Australia’s various state and territory Tourism Industry Councils. As a leading voice for the Australian tourism industry, ATIC represents over 9,000 tourism business operators from across the country.

The role of ATIC is to provide leadership and industry representation through a national voice for tourism, advocate for the industry across important and relevant issues, and to manage national industry development programs.

Additionally, ATIC is the owner and licensor of the Quality Tourism Framework, its programs and Brandmark. Some of these programs include the Quality Tourism accreditation program, Sustainable Tourism accreditation program and the Accessible Tourism program. These are just a selection of the suite of programs offered to support Australian tourism businesses to develop and grow.

About the Quality Tourism Framework

Following more than 20 successful years of recognising high-quality tourism businesses, the Australian tourism accreditation and awards have been re-branded to better promote your business.

The new Quality Tourism Framework combines multiple tourism accreditation, business development and awards programs into a single, user-friendly online tool to develop your business and grow your market, paired with new, modern branding to promote your status as a Quality Tourism Accredited Business.

The Quality Tourism Framework enables you to develop your business from start-up through to niche markets and international trade channels, in order to develop a sustainable tourism business that can compete and prosper.

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Bulletin – December 2022 Australian Economy The Recovery in the Australian Tourism Industry

8 December 2022

Angelina Bruno, Kathryn Davis and Andrew Staib [*]

• Download 940 KB

The Australian tourism industry is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic that brought global travel to an unprecedented standstill. International tourism fell sharply in early 2020 and has only slowly recovered since restrictions were lifted in the first half of this year. By contrast, domestic tourism spending bounced back quickly as local restrictions eased and is now above pre-pandemic levels. This article outlines the recovery in the Australian tourism industry following the pandemic, the challenges the industry has faced in reopening, and the uncertainties around the outlook for the tourism industry over the next few years.

Introduction

Restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 and precautionary behaviour by consumers significantly disrupted the movement of people both domestically and internationally during the pandemic period. This had a devastating impact on many Australian businesses that provided services to domestic or international tourists. Nevertheless, many of these businesses have shown considerable resilience and flexibility, aided by a range of government support packages, and are now expanding to service the recovery.

This article presents a snapshot of the tourism industry through the pandemic, before focusing on the recovery over the past year. While international tourism is recovering only slowly, domestic tourism spending has rebounded strongly – to above pre-pandemic levels – as many Australians have chosen to take domestic rather than overseas holidays. The article draws on information from the Bank’s regional and industry liaison program to discuss the challenges the tourism industry has faced in meeting this sudden increase in demand, and the outlook for tourism activity over the next few years. Many tourism businesses have found it difficult to quickly scale up to meet demand, and these supply constraints have limited tourism activity and led to higher prices. Looking ahead, a continued recovery in tourism activity is expected as supply-side issues are gradually resolved and international tourism picks up further. However, there are a number of uncertainties around the timing and extent of this recovery.

International tourism

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp drop in international tourism, as governments around the world implemented travel and border restrictions (Graph 1). In April 2020, international tourism arrivals declined globally by around 90 per cent and Australia’s international tourist arrivals effectively came to a standstill for several months.

The timing and extent of the recovery in international tourism has been uneven across the world, as national governments removed restrictions at a different pace. Globally, international tourism arrivals picked up to be around three-quarters of their pre-pandemic levels by September 2022. In Australia, international tourist arrivals rose slightly in mid-2021 under the temporary operation of the Australia–New Zealand travel bubble, and also in November 2021 as border restrictions eased in some parts of the country. However, it wasn’t until February 2022 – when Australia removed border restrictions for vaccinated persons – that arrivals began to substantially pick up. Since July 2022, people have been able to travel to and from Australia without being required to declare their vaccination status.

Short-term overseas arrivals to Australia (which include tourists but also those visiting for less than 12 months for business, education and employment purposes) picked up to be around half of pre-pandemic levels by September 2022 (Graph 2). However, short-term departures of Australian residents have picked up more quickly than short-term arrivals of overseas visitors, and so the net outflow of travellers has been larger than pre-pandemic levels in recent months.

Reasons for travel

The recovery in short-term travel to and from Australia has been particularly pronounced among those visiting friends and relatives (VFR) (Graph 3). VFR accounted for just over half of all international visitors’ spending over the year to June 2022, whereas it accounted for just under one-fifth in 2019 (Table 1). Short-term travel for business and education purposes has also picked up. However, the recovery in outbound business travel (including conventions and conferences) has outpaced inbound business travel, with relatively few major business events held in Australia in 2022. Short-term travel for employment reasons has almost fully recovered to its 2019 levels. By contrast, the number of visitors arriving in Australia for holidays has picked up only slightly, to be around one-third of its pre-pandemic level (holiday visitors accounted for only 10 per cent of international visitor spending over the year to June 2022, compared to nearly 40 per cent in 2019).

Working holiday makers and international students who are in Australia for more than a year are not included in the short-term arrivals data, but they make a significant contribution to tourism spending. According to Hall and Godfrey (2019), visitors who state the main purpose of their trip as education stay longer and spend more than leisure and business tourists. International students and individuals on working holiday visas have a high propensity to travel within Australia, and often their friends and relatives come to visit. The number of international students and working holiday visa holders in Australia has risen to be around two-thirds and one-half of their pre-pandemic levels in the September quarter of 2022, respectively.

The recovery in international visitors to Australia has been uneven across source countries, reflecting both travel restrictions and the quicker recovery in VFR relative to other types of travel (Graph 4). The recovery in the number of visitors from India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom has been faster than for other countries, possibly due to the close relationships residents from those countries have with Australian residents (in the 2021 Census, England and India were the top two countries of birth for Australian residents, other than Australia). While there has been a notable pick-up in people from India visiting friends and relatives, there has also been a pronounced recovery in the number of Indian students coming to Australia. By contrast, the number of Chinese visitors remains more than 90 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, due to ongoing travel restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19 in China. This is significant for the Australian tourism sector as, prior to the pandemic, Chinese visitors were the largest source of tourist spending and contributed around 20 per cent of total leisure travel exports in 2019 (or nearly 30 per cent if education-related travel is included).

Domestic tourism

Domestic tourism activity was severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the introduction of strict restrictions on household mobility (‘lockdowns’) across the country in March 2020 (Graph 5). At the same time, a number of states and territories implemented interstate border restrictions and quarantine arrangements. As a result, domestic tourist visitor numbers declined sharply. By April 2020, domestic tourist numbers were less than 20 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

The first lockdown ended for most parts of the country by the end of May 2020, although some restrictions on household activity and state border closures remained in place for an extended period of time. Melbourne re-entered lockdown for much of the second half of 2020. By the end of that year, however, a number of states and territories had eased restrictions and reopened domestic borders, allowing domestic visitor numbers to recover to around 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels over the 2020/21  summer and the 2021 Easter holidays (Graph 6).

A third major disruption emerged in mid-2021, as a sharp rise in the number of Delta-variant cases led to the reintroduction of lockdowns in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. Around half of the Australian population were under significant restrictions for most of the September quarter of 2021 and domestic visitor numbers declined to around 40 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Domestic tourism numbers rebounded again during the 2021/22  summer holidays as health restrictions eased once more, but not to the levels of the previous year; the Omicron outbreak in early 2022 tempered activity somewhat. As concerns about Omicron abated, domestic visitor numbers again recovered, and have been around 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels since Easter 2022.

While domestic visitor numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels, total domestic tourism spending and the average spend per visitor have been above pre-pandemic levels since March 2022. Some liaison contacts report that domestic travellers are staying longer than they did before the pandemic and spending patterns have become more like those on overseas holidays, with domestic tourists spending more on tours and experiences to explore Australia. This higher spending also reflects an increase in domestic travel prices (see below).

The recovery in domestic tourism spending in 2022, to around or above pre-pandemic levels, is evident in all states and territories (Graph 7). Naturally, states that experienced longer and stricter COVID-19 restrictions had much more significant declines in tourism activity over 2020 and 2021. Western Australia experienced the least disruption to the tourism industry, partly due to having fewer restrictions on movement, but also because the closed state border meant that more Western Australians were holidaying in their own state. In recent months, the Northern Territory and Queensland have been the recipients of domestic tourism spending well above 2019 levels, perhaps because these travel destinations are regarded as closer substitutes for overseas holidays.

Travel to regional areas recovered more quickly and fully than travel to capital cities (Graph 8). Regional areas were less affected by lockdowns and liaison suggests that travellers preferred to avoid more densely populated areas. There was also a shift towards driving holidays, which has greatly benefited regions within two to three hours’ drive from capital cities.

Challenges in reopening the Australian tourism industry

While pandemic-related declines in domestic and international tourism weighed heavily on the Australian tourism industry, many businesses have proved resilient and have experienced a strong rebound in demand from domestic tourists in recent months. Nevertheless, many businesses have found it difficult to scale up to meet this demand, and supply constraints have acted to limit tourism activity and led to higher prices.

In 2022, the biggest constraint on the recovery in tourism activity has been difficulty finding sufficient labour to service tourism demand. The tourism industry lost a large number of experienced staff during the pandemic – and so when domestic tourism recovered, the sector had to rapidly hire workers in a tight labour market. Online advertisements for tourism jobs rose to record highs by mid-2022 (Graph 9). These jobs have been difficult to fill. Liaison contacts have suggested that many of the Australians who had worked in the tourism industry prior to the pandemic have since found jobs in other industries. Moreover, many tourism-related jobs had previously been filled by international students and, particularly in regional locations, working holiday makers – many of whom left Australia during the pandemic and have been slow to return. On top of the difficulties in attracting and retaining staff, illness-related absenteeism has been elevated more broadly through 2022.

Tourism businesses in many regional areas have had additional difficulties attracting staff, partly due to a shortage of housing. An increase in net migration to these areas has contributed to very low rental vacancy rates in many popular tourist areas. In response, some holiday accommodation providers have resorted to housing their own staff.

There have also been some changes in consumer behaviour resulting from the pandemic that have made it harder for tourism businesses to plan and have sufficient staff available to meet demand. Trends such as increased working from home and a reduction in business-related day trips have created a larger gap between peak and off-peak periods for many tourism businesses. There are also sharper peaks and troughs in demand because there are fewer international tourists, who often travel at different times to domestic travellers (e.g. filling accommodation mid-week and outside school holidays). Booking lead times substantially shortened during the pandemic, though there is some evidence that perhaps these are lengthening out again. Nevertheless, booking lead times have always been shorter for domestic travel than international travel, so the change in the composition of travellers has made it more difficult for tourism businesses to plan ahead.

While labour has been a constraint across most of the tourism industry, a lack of capital equipment has been an additional constraint for some businesses. Many tourism-related businesses sold off or retired vehicles, boats, aircraft and other equipment during the pandemic when they could not operate and were in need of cash (Grozinger and Parsons 2020). The sudden and stronger-than-anticipated recovery in domestic tourism in 2022, combined with supply chain issues delaying the manufacture and delivery of new equipment and vehicles, has meant that many businesses did not have the capital equipment they need to service the increase in demand.

These supply-side constraints (in both labour and capital) have limited the tourism industry’s ability to ramp up to meet demand. Liaison suggests many tourism operators are operating below their previous capacity – for example, many have had to limit their operating hours because of lack of staff, and some accommodation providers have not been able to offer all their rooms for booking as they do not have enough staff to service them. Labour shortages and supply chain delays have also weighed on aviation capacity and contributed to a decline in domestic airlines ‘on-time performance’ over 2022 (Graph 10).

Similar constraints are also weighing on the recovery in international tourism. Contacts suggest that the recovery has been held back by limited flight availability, the higher cost of travel insurance and, in many cases, the higher cost of flights. Liaison contacts have indicated that delays in visa issuance in 2022 have also been a barrier for those seeking to travel to Australia. Over the past few months, however, visa processing times have shortened somewhat, and visa processing for applicants located overseas – including applicants for visitor, student and temporary skilled visas – have been given higher priority to allow more people to travel to Australia (Department of Home Affairs 2022).

The supply-side constraints in the tourism industry, combined with a strong pick-up in domestic demand and the higher cost of inputs such as fuel, have led to a sharp increase in domestic travel prices (Graph 11). Liaison contacts suggest that consumers have been relatively accepting of price rises for services essential to travel, such as accommodation. However, smaller operators – particularly in highly discretionary services, such as tours – have had less scope to increase their prices, and their margins have been squeezed by the higher costs of inputs such as food, fuel, energy and insurance costs. Prices for overseas travel have also increased significantly in recent quarters, as demand for flights has outstripped capacity, alongside rising jet fuel costs and increases in prices for international tours (ABS 2022).

The outlook

Looking ahead, tourism activity is expected to continue to recover as supply-side issues are slowly resolved and international tourism picks up further. Most liaison contacts suggest a full recovery will not occur until at least mid-2023; many expect it to take a few more years. There are a number of factors that will affect the timing and extent of the ongoing recovery in tourism, including:

• The easing of supply-side constraints : It is unclear how long it may take for some of the supply-side constraints in the industry to ease, including whether planned changes in flight availability will be sufficient to meet changes in demand, and whether the sector will be able to fill more job vacancies over time and as migration returns.
• The return of international students and working holiday visas : Many people have recently had working holiday visas approved and are expected to arrive over the coming year. Liaison contacts also expect international student numbers to increase over the next few years. The return of working holiday and student visa holders will increase demand for tourism services, and will likely alleviate labour shortages as they take jobs in the sector.
• Australians’ preferences for domestic and international travel : Demand for Australia’s tourism services may decline if Australians’ preference for overseas rather than domestic holidays picks up before international inbound tourism demand increases further. It is possible that cost-of-living pressures, combined with the higher cost of international travel, could lead Australian households to continue to prefer domestic holidays for a time. Nevertheless, many households have significant savings and pent-up demand for international travel after planned trips have been deferred over the past few years.
• The global economic outlook : Global economic conditions and the exchange rate affect decisions about whether to travel the long distance to Australia (as they have in the past) (Dobson and Hooper 2015). Financial concerns and the rising cost of living could make expensive, long-haul travel less attractive.
• The timing and extent of recovery in Chinese tourism : As noted above, China accounted for a large share of tourism spending prior to the pandemic. The outlook for Chinese tourism (and international students from China) remains highly uncertain and will depend on a number of factors, including China’s policies to restrict the spread of COVID-19 , the outlook for the Chinese economy and the travel preferences of Chinese tourists more generally.

Restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 and precautionary behaviour significantly disrupted the movement of people both domestically and internationally throughout the pandemic. Since restrictions have eased, international travel has been slow to recover, but domestic tourism spending has rebounded to be above pre-pandemic levels and many tourism service providers are currently operating at capacity. Looking ahead, tourism activity is expected to continue to recover, as supply-side issues are slowly resolved and international tourism picks up further. Australia remains an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists, and the resilience and flexibility demonstrated by Australian tourism businesses in recent years bode well for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

The authors are from the Regional and Industry Analysis section of Economic Analysis Department. The authors are grateful for the assistance provided by others in the department, in particular Aaron Walker and James Holloway. [*]

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2022), ‘Main Contributors to Change’, Consumer Price Index , June.

Department of Home Affairs (2022), ‘Visa processing times’, viewed 14 November 2022. Available at <https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times>.

Dobson C and Hooper K (2015), ‘ Insights from the Australian Tourism Industry ’, RBA Bulletin , March, pp 21–31.

Grozinger P and Parsons S (2020), ‘ The COVID-19 Outbreak and Australia’s Education and Tourism Exports ’, RBA Bulletin , December.

Hall R and Godfrey A (2019), ‘Edu-tourism and the Impact of International Students’, International Education Association of Australia, 3 May.

Tourism industry

Learn how we support the Australian tourism industry and boost the visitor economy.

Austrade leads work to support the sustainable growth and prosperity of Australia’s visitor economy. 

We do this by:

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It’s never been easier or safer to visit, work or learn in Australia, and it’s never been more important to support our visitor economy. And Austrade is leading way.

Go further, faster with Austrade - austrade.gov.au.

About the visitor economy

The visitor economy covers all visitors who travel to and within Australia. This can be for reasons such as:

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A wide range of sectors provide goods and services to visitors including:

• accommodation
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• business event service providers
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Strategy for the visitor economy - THRIVE 2030

We manage the national long-term strategy for the visitor economy, THRIVE 2030 .

THRIVE 2030 is an industry-led, government-enabled strategy. It provides an action plan to rebuild and grow the sector.

The visitor economy was Australia’s fourth-largest export sector before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the sector:

• was worth $166 billion
• employed 660,000 people.

COVID-19 compounded pre-existing challenges facing the visitor economy.  THRIVE 2030  seeks to address these challenges and set out a long-term vision.

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To help grow businesses in the visitor economy, we administer a range of export and tourism grants .

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We provide statistics and research to assist the government, the visitor economy and Australian businesses. Find out more at  Tourism Research Australia .

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Read about the latest  Tourism Ministers' Meeting, 20 May 2024 .

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism industry in Australia - statistics & facts

Inbound tourism: the road to recovery, outbound tourism: top destinations and interests, domestic tourism: exploring their own backyard, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by country of residence

Number of outbound tourists from Australia FY 2023, by destination

Direct tourism GDP growth rate Australia FY 2006-2023

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Number of visitors at Sydney Airport Australia Feb 2019-Dec 2023, by passenger type

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Number of domestic visitors Sydney, Australia 2014-2023, by type of trip

Further recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Australia 2013-2028
• Basic Statistic Direct tourism GDP Australia FY 2006-2023
• Basic Statistic Direct tourism GDP growth rate Australia FY 2006-2023
• Basic Statistic Tourism contribution Australia FY 2023, by industry
• Premium Statistic Tourism contribution Australia FY 2023, by state
• Premium Statistic Number of tourism businesses Australia 2023, by type
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Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Australia 2013-2028

Share of the GDP of the tourism sector in Australia from 2013 to 2028

Direct tourism GDP Australia FY 2006-2023

Direct tourism gross domestic product (GDP) in Australia from financial year 2006 to 2023 (in billion Australian dollars)

Growth of direct tourism gross domestic product (GDP) in Australia from financial year 2006 to 2023

Tourism contribution Australia FY 2023, by industry

Gross value added (GVA) of tourism in Australia in financial year 2023, by tourism related industry (in billion Australian dollars)

Tourism contribution Australia FY 2023, by state

Gross value added (GVA) of tourism in Australia in financial year 2023, by state (in billion Australian dollars)

Number of tourism businesses Australia 2023, by type

Number of businesses in the tourism sector in Australia as of June 2023, by type (in 1,000s)

Tourism sector employment Australia FY 2023, by state and type

Number of employees in the tourism sector in Australia in financial year 2023, by state and type (in 1,000s)

Inbound tourism

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• Premium Statistic Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by age group
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by state visited
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by purpose of visit
• Premium Statistic International visitor trip expenditure Australia FY 2010-2023
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Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2010-2023

Number of international visitor arrivals to Australia from financial year 2010 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of international visitor arrivals to Australia in financial year 2023, by country of residence (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by age group

Number of international visitor arrivals to Australia in financial year 2023, by age group (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by state visited

Number of international visitor arrivals to Australia in financial year 2023, by state visited (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitors to Australia FY 2023, by purpose of visit

Number of international visitor arrivals to Australia in financial year 2023, by purpose of visit (in 1,000s)

International visitor trip expenditure Australia FY 2010-2023

Total trip expenditure of international visitors in Australia from financial year 2010 to 2023 (in billion Australian dollars)

International visitor trip expenditure Australia FY 2023, by country of residence

Trip expenditure of international visitors to Australia in financial year 2023, by country of residence (in million Australian dollars)

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourists from Australia FY 2006-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of outbound tourists from Australia 2017-2024, by state of residence
• Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourists from Australia FY 2023, by destination
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourist trip expenditure FY 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourist trip expenditure Australia FY 2023, by destination
• Premium Statistic Leading tourism experience interests among outbound travelers Australia 2022
• Premium Statistic Leading sport tourism experience interests of outbound travelers Australia 2022

Number of outbound tourists from Australia FY 2006-2023

Number of overseas departures of Australian residents from Australia from financial year 2006 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of outbound tourists from Australia 2017-2024, by state of residence

Number of outbound tourists from Australia from July 2017 to July 2024, by state of residence

Number of outbound tourists from Australia in financial year 2023, by destination (in thousands)

Outbound tourist trip expenditure FY 2019-2023

Trip expenditure of Australian outbound travelers from financial year 2019 to 2023 (in billion Australian dollars)

Outbound tourist trip expenditure Australia FY 2023, by destination

Trip expenditure of Australian outbound travelers in financial year 2023, by destination (in million Australian dollars)

Leading tourism experience interests among outbound travelers Australia 2022

Leading tourism experience interests among outbound travelers from Australia in 2022

Leading sport tourism experience interests of outbound travelers Australia 2022

Leading sport tourism experience interests among outbound travelers from Australia in 2022

Domestic tourism

• Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2023, by state visited
• Premium Statistic Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2023, by purpose of visit
• Premium Statistic Domestic overnight tourist trip expenditure Australia FY 2014-2023
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Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2014-2023

Number of domestic overnight visitors in Australia from 2014 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2023, by state visited

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Number of domestic overnight visitors Australia 2023, by purpose of visit

Number of domestic overnight visitors in Australia in 2023, by purpose of visit (in millions)

Domestic overnight tourist trip expenditure Australia FY 2014-2023

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Domestic overnight tourist trip expenditure Australia 2023, by state or territory

Trip expenditure of domestic overnight visitors in Australia in 2023, by state visited (in billion Australian dollars)

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Number of domestic day visitors in Australia in 2023, by purpose of visit (in millions)

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Business Customs

AnchorAnchorAnchorConducting business in Australia is relatively easy for American companies due to the similarities in language, cultural environment, business practices, and customer expectations. Australians pay attention to advance planning, promptness, follow-up, and are generally direct in their business dealings. They typically conduct business on a first-name basis and exchange business cards for information purposes, but without any special ceremony. Token gift exhange is not common; however, luncheon and breakfest meetings are common. Australians do not typically schedule business functions on weekends. Business attire is the norm for the cities, and rural areas are slightly more informal.

Travel Advisory

Please check the Australian Embassy in the U.S. for the latest information on entering Australia.  For further State Department Travel Advisory information on Australia, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s travel website . 

Website for the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia is: U.S. Embassy in Australia

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AnchorAnchorAmericans traveling to Australia for business and/or leisure must hold a valid U.S. passport and either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Information is available at 

https://usa.embassy.gov.au/travel-australia or immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-australia/can-i-go-to-australia . For the location of the nearest Australian diplomatic facility, please refer to https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-locations/missions/our-embassies-and-consulates-overseas .

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has extended the use of SmartGate to U.S. citizens on arrival in Australia. SmartGate is a simple way for eligible travelers arriving into Australia’s international airports to self-process through passport control. Further information is available on U.S. Customs Trusted Traveller Program website.

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign business persons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. For information, visa applicants should go to the following link(s):  State Department Visa Website

Australia’s local currency is the Australian Dollar.  Credit cards are accepted throughout the country and ATM’s are readily available.  Additional currency information is availabe on the australia.com website.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure is well developed.  Cell phone network coverage is available across Australia, however coverage may be limited in some remote areas.  Australian telecommunications providers include: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. All the cell phone carriers run 4G networks. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have started to activitate 5G networks in limited areas around the country and will continue widespread expansion.  You will need to make prior arrangements with your communications carrier or service provider to ensure you are able to use your cellular phone in Australia. Power voltage is 240 volts/50Hz.

Australia and New Zealand use power terminals that differ from those used in the United States. Adaptors can be purchased at airports or specific electronic stores.

Internet access is widely available at hotels, internet cafés and libraries. There are many Wi-Fi hotspots in the central business districts (CBDs) of the biggest cities.

Transportation

It is a 14-hour non-stop flight from the West Coast of the United States (San Francisco or Los Angeles) to the East Coast of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane).

Several international airlines service the trans-pacific route including Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas Airways, and United Airlines with flights departing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York  and Honolulu to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.  Please refer to airlines’ websites for updated flight options, availability and information.

Most flights depart from the United States late in the evening and arrive in Australia early morning, with a day lost at the International Date Line. Travel to or from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa from Australia is also convenient.

Australians drive on the left side of the road. Major U.S. and Australian car rental agencies operate throughout the country. Reservations are available through airports, hotels, travel agents, or directly, using a credit card and a U.S. or international driver’s license.

Public transportation is well-developed throughout urban areas. Convenient bus, rail, and air services are available between cities and country towns.

Air Travel Times Within Australia

Sydney to Melbourne - 1 hour

Sydney to Brisbane - 1 hour

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Australia is an English-speaking country.

AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAustralia has no notable health risks and public tap water is safe to drink. There are active campaigns to encourage the population to protect themselves from exposure to Australia’s strong sun and to use sunscreen.  Medical and dental services, and all types of health facilities, are comparable with those in the United States. Visitors can easily receive medical attention, but may be required to pay for services immediately, either by cash or credit card.

Local Time, Business Hours & Holidays

Australia has three time zones: Eastern, Central, and Western. Not all Australian states observe daylight savings time and the dates for the switch to and from daylight savings time varies.

Office business hours are generally between 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Most shops in major city centers are open on Saturday and Sunday and at least one night a week for evening trading. Banks are open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, with 24/7 ATM service. Restaurants and convenience stores are typically open for extended hours.

Australians generally take annual vacation in December and January, combining Christmas/New Year with the school summer vacation period. Consequently, business slows down and it may be difficult to schedule business appointments during this time. Business travelers should ascertain whether their contacts are available during this period before scheduling trips to Australia.

A list of Public Holidays in Australia can be found on the Australian Government website.

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Certain goods may be brought into Australia on a temporary basis for a period of up to 12 months without the payment of duty or taxes. These goods are referred to as temporary imports.  Approval for temporary imports is granted under Section 162 or Section 162A of the Customs Act 1901.

Goods that qualify as temporary imports may also be imported under carnet, where a security is lodged with a carnet issuing body overseas, or under security, where a security is lodged with the Australian Customs Service (Customs) at the time of import. The nature of the goods, what they will be used for while they are in Australia, and who is importing the goods will determine whether or not the goods will qualify.

There are conditions placed on temporary imports.  The most important condition is that you export the goods within the time limits approved.  If the goods are not exported within the time limit you will have to pay to customs an amount equal to the duty and taxes that would have been payable if when you first imported the goods, the goods had not been treated as temporary imports.

For further information, please visit https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/temporary-imports

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Australian Visa and Entry Requirements FAQs

Learn about visa requirements for entry to Australia for tourism purposes with this list of frequently asked questions. 

Please note this page is intended to provide general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority. For information on visas to enter Australia, visitors should seek the most up-to-date information from Australian Government Department of Home Affairs .*

Ready to plan your trip? We're ready to welcome you! Here are some helpful tips for getting your visa sorted: 

• Be sure to secure the appropriate visa before travelling to Australia. Use the Visa Finder to explore your options.
• Ensure all details are correct and provide all required documents when you apply. An incomplete or incorrect application can delay your visa.
• Submitting multiple applications at the same time can slow the process. For visitor visas, submit one application per person, including children. 
• Questions? The Australian Government's Global Service Centre can help.

Australian Visa Information

Unless you are an Australian citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the  Department of Home Affairs website.

There are different Australian visa types available for travellers to Australia. Knowing which Australian visa to apply for depends on the length of your stay, your passport and the purpose of your visit. You’ll also need to meet certain financial and medical requirements, be outside of Australia when applying and maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay. 

Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is  here .

All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. Agents can assist you in the application process, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required.

eVisitor  (subclass 651) This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.

Visitor visa  (subclass 600) The Visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes. It is open to all nationalities. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.

The application process may differ depending on which visa you need.

You can only apply for the  Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) through the Australian ETA app. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is located  here .

For other visas, you can apply online by creating an ImmiAccount and completing the application process. Be sure to submit your application well in advance of your travel date to allow enough time for processing. You may be asked to provide further supporting information. You will be notified in writing if your tourist visa is approved and it will be digitally linked to your passport. For more information on different visa types, and Australian visa requirements including how to apply for an Australian visa, visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website.

If you are already in Australia and hold a valid Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) you can extend your stay by applying for another visa, such as a Visitor visa (subclass 600). An eVisitor (subclass 651) cannot be extended.

See the Department of Home Affairs website for details.

Working Holiday Visas

Australia's Working Holiday Maker program allows visitors aged under 30 (or 35 in certain cases) who hold a passport from a participating country to travel and work in Australia. Working holiday visas are valid for one year, or up to three years if you meet certain conditions.

Find out more about working holiday visas here .

*Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check this information is still current by visiting the Australian Department of Home Affairs .

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Home » News » Building Bush Tourism Fund pumps $10 million into Outback Queensland tourism destinations

Building Bush Tourism Fund pumps $10 million into Outback Queensland tourism destinations

The Outback tourism experience is set to improve across Queensland with 57 projects to share in $10 million through the Building Bush Tourism Fund.

Grants from $50,000 to $200,000 will be distributed to tourism operators, not-for-profit organisations and local councils to create and improve infrastructure, grow regional participation and drive visitors to the regions.

They include four Indigenous organisations and an Aboriginal Shire Council.

Building Bush Tourism Fund projects, part of the $30 million Backing Bush Communities Fund, are estimated to generate 234 jobs during planning and construction and 229 ongoing operational jobs.

They will directly result in an additional 298,509 visitors per year, spending more than $80 million per annum.

According to the Queensland Department of Tourism, Towards Tourism 2032 raises the profile of tourism and its importance to the economy. It directly supports growing Queensland’s economy via good jobs, better services and great lifestyle.

The vision is for Queensland to be Australia’s destination of choice for domestic and global visitors seeking the world’s best experiences by 2032. The industry is aiming to more than double the state’s tourism overnight expenditure to more than $44 billion in overnight visitor expenditure (OVE) a year by 2032.

Feature image: Hartleys Creek Crocodile Farm, Wangetti

In Tropical North Queensland , 13 successful projects will share in $2.265 million:

• Riversleigh Fossil Trail, Cairns Aquarium and Reef Research Centre, Cairns
• Water-focused Environmental Science Centre, Cairns Koalas and Creatures, Cairns School Dam Shelters and lookout point bird hides, Normanton
• Luxury safari tents to expand accommodation, Cape Weymouth Camping and Cabins, Cape York
• Rossville Retreat increased camping capacity, accessibility, and Indigenous immersion experience, Rossville
• Crocwise Interpretive Centre immersive experience, Hartleys Creek Crocodile Farm, Wangetti
• Wawu Dimbi Eco-Cultural Tourism Bush Camp, Daintree
• Nature-based Glamping, Mareeba Bush Stays, Chewko
• Lighting up Kuranda improved lighting, landscaping and inclusive accessibility, Kuranda
• The Canopy Treehouses infrastructure repurposing, Atherton Tablelands
• Wujal Wujal Culture and Heritage Walking Trail, Wujal Wujal
• Burketown Wharf Recreational Precinct footpath improvements, Burketown
• Gangalidda and Garawa Native Title Aboriginal Corporation increased tourism accommodation, Burketown

Riversleigh Fossil Trail.

In Outback Queensland , 18 successful projects will share in $3.01 million funding:

• Hebel Township footpaths, picnic shelters, BBQ and footpath to connect campgrounds to CBD, Hebel
• Thallon Rail Interpretive Centre exhibition space about town’s rail history, Thallon
• Spirit Place and Silver Lining Studio upgrades, Barcaldine
• Jundah Racecourse amenities facilities upgrade, Jundah
• Ilfracombe Rest Facilities Upgrade, Ilfracombe
• Refurbishment of historical Yuleba Fire Tower Cabin, Yuleba
• Indigenous Art Gallery within Outback at Isa, Mount Isa
• Drovers Heritage Centre/Museum exterior transformation including historic murals, Camooweal
• Charleville Cosmos Centre facility upgrade and enhancement, Charleville
• Gidgee’s Bush Camp bore and solar pump installation in bush campgrounds, Morven
• Charlotte Plains Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure Project including hot pool and upgrade of campsite amenities, Cunnamulla
• Cunnamulla Hot Springs and Theatre Arts Activation, Cunnamulla
• Club Boutique Hotel new infrastructure to increase accommodation, Cunnamulla
• Eromanga Natural History Museum construction of children’s dig pit, including 3D fossil replicas, Eromanga
• Quilpie Visitor Information Centre, Museum and Gallery enhancements including new undercover entertainment area and accessibility, Quilpie
• The Lake Quilpie expanded facilities and new accessibility amenities, Quilpie
• ‘Shadows of Gondwana’ sustainable multi-sensory evening entertainment experience at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs, Winton

Cunnamulla Hot Springs.

In Southern Queensland , 17 projects will share in $2.72 million:

• Development of a Geo Trail centred around the Emerald Visitor Information Centre, Emerald
• The Ration Shed Museum expansion of exhibition space and improvements to gallery, Cherbourg
• Laundry facilities to increase capacity for caravan and camping at Goondiwindi Showgrounds, Goondiwindi
• Improvements to entertainment facilities, including accessible pathway at Goondiwindi Race Club, Goondiwindi
• Upgraded facilities and entertainment area adjacent to powered caravan sites at Toobeah Coronation Hotel, Toobeah
• New infrastructure to enhance immersive experience at 55 Million Years Ago Fossil Museum, Murgon
• Upgrades to communal camp kitchen to improve accessibility at Barambah Bush Caravan Park, Murgon
• 5 Wine Domes and Event Space at Ballandean Estate Wines, Ballandean
• School of Wine and Spirits immersive educational hub at Bents Road Winery, Ballandean
• Pioneer Hut extension and additional facilities at Diamondvale Estate, Diamondvale
• Queensland’s first Grape to Glass Centre at Sancerre Estate, Ballandean
• Warwick Railway Station redevelopment to establish a visitor centre, cafe and tour base for steam rail tours, Warwick
• Paved pathways to improve accessibility throughout Darling Downs Zoo, Pilton
• Charleys Creek Camping construction of livestock/entertainment arena to host charity events and equine healing therapy, Chinchilla
• Great Artesian Basin Centre expansion and installation of First Nations interpretive experience, Miles
• Riverbank Glamping self-contained private safari style tent, Boonarga
• Multi-purpose function facility at The Dusty Chook, Chinchilla

Warwick Railway Station.

An additional nine projects have been funded in the Bundaberg, Capricornia, Fraser Coast, Gladstone and Mackay regions.

But Alan Smith, owner of Outback Aussie Tours, told ABC Business he was concerned about the financial impact on small, tourism-dependent towns.

“When you get a stinger like this when it’s slow to start, it’s really going to put them under a lot of pressure,” he said. “You can only make so much money out of two or three months.

“I think we’re going to lose people out of the communities and out of the business if this stuff continues much longer.

“The economy’s been tightened and it’s time to pay back that COVID debt,” he said.

In the west of the state, sales of tickets to the Birdsville Big Red Bash, one of the outback’s biggest music events, were down on previous years.

“A lot of people are now moving back to overseas travel … particularly the demographic that comes out to the bash,” organiser Greg Donovan told ABC Business.

Tourism Research Australia data from the last quarter of 2023 indicated the increase in grey nomads taking international trips matched the decrease in those caravanning within Queensland.

Minister for Tourism Michael Healy said the money will bring nearly 300,000 additional visitors to the regions.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to experience the wonders of Outback Queensland,” he said.

On an ABC North West Queensland Facebook blamed cheap flight sand budget holidays overseas.

“Airports and planes are packed … cheaper to head overseas than holiday at home unfortunately,” Leanne Seaton said.

“Maybe the cost of caravan parks on top of increased fuel costs and grocery costs are making it out of reach for tourists,” another commented.

“This will be a trend over the next 20+ years as the level of retirees fall due to the need to work longer just to live. The 2010-COVID days probably saw the peak in retirees and grey nomads for our era,” Davis Walshe commented.

Email the Travel Weekly team at [email protected]

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Tourism Businesses in Australia

This report estimates the number of businesses in Australia’s tourism industry.

The Tourism Businesses in Australia report includes data on the size of tourism-related businesses, and their main activities and locations across Australia.

Download the report

Tourism Businesses in Australia June 2017 to 2022

Each year, Tourism Research Australia (TRA) publishes a summary of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ counts of tourism businesses in Australia. The TRA summary categorises tourism businesses by:

• industry sector
• ­employment size­
• organisational structure
• business turnover
• states, territories, and tourism regions.

Key findings

The report reveals there were 358,277 tourism businesses operating nationwide at 30 June 2022. This is 5.7% or 19,233 more businesses than the previous year.

Although the strongest increase since 2017-18, the growth is below the nationwide average growth rate in 2021-22 for all Australian businesses (7.0%). Nonetheless, even with this lower amount, 1 in 7 Australian businesses (14%) is directly connected to tourism.

Most of the growth in tourism business numbers in 2021-22 occurred in three industry sectors:

• retail trade services (up by 7% or 10,422)
• cafes, restaurants, and take-away services. This includes pubs, clubs, taverns, and bars (up by 5% or 4,735)
• cultural, sports and recreation services (up by 10% or 3,390).

Small businesses form most of Australia’s tourism business sector. Of all tourism businesses in June 2022:

• 48% or 172,263 were micro or small, with 1 to 19 employees
• 47% or 169,897 had no employees other than the owner.

There were 11% or 16,416 additional non-employing tourism businesses in 2021-22. This accounted for 85% of the total increase over the previous year.

As at June 2022, 82% of tourism businesses were in New South Wales (117,781), Victoria (111,400) and Queensland (64,038). Although rates of growth varied, all states and territories saw an increase in tourism businesses in 2021-22.

Data tables

Find out more about tourism businesses in our data tables.

Industry and employment size data

Organisational structure and turnover data

Geographic data

Contact TRA

mail   tourism.research@tra.gov.au

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‘Revenge travel’ boosts passenger numbers to pre-pandemic levels

The cost-of-living crisis has done little to dampen Aussies’ appetite for one activity they were denied during the Covid-19 pandemic.

China launches flight to major Aussie city

Mega $3bn change at major airport

Qantas drops Asian hotspot sale

Australians have defied the cost-of-living crisis and flocked to airports in the past 12 months for international travel at rates just shy of pre-pandemic levels.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows in the past year, 1,010,640 short and long-term trips were taken by Australian residents, just 38,000 trips shy of 2019.

An RMIT global financial markets, behaviour and trends expert thinks the numbers show Aussies are “revenge travelling”; hunting deals after the pandemic restrictions.

The ABS data, released on Friday, shows Australian short and long-term departure numbers are at 96 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

In the 12 months to July 2024, Australians left for more long-term overseas trips than in 2019 – up more than 15 per cent to 26,440.

“The data shows us Australians are ‘revenge travelling’ despite recent economic pressures,” RMIT associate professor in finance Angel Zhong said.

“Opt for travel destinations that offer good value for money, such as places with favourable exchange rates or a lower cost of living,” Dr Zhong said.

“Recent data shows Indonesia is a top travel destination for Australians.”

RMIT Aviation Academy operations manager Justin Brownjohn said higher cost of living had changed consumer behaviour.

“Travel hacking is not a new phenomenon, but it’s becoming more prominent in today’s inflationary environment,” he said.

As well as getting smart on frequent flyer points, point-stacking, looking for points bonuses and redeeming them smartly, there are some more straightforward ways to save.

“Absolutely never book 12 months ahead – this is when airlines automatically release their schedules, which is when the most expensive fares are made available and you’ll be at risk of fare dropping,” Mr Brownjohn said.

The thriftiest time to book domestic flights is six to eight weeks ahead and three to four months ahead for international travel.

Consumers should also clear their browser cookie history so travel sites do not increase fares the more you go to check on prices.

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) estimates nearly 19 million international and domestic air tickets were issued in Australia in the 2023 calendar year, up from about 17 million the year before.

“Fundamentally, we’ve got back to a normal rhythm of travel,” ATIA chief executive Dean Long told Forbes in July.

“So we’re still below pre-pandemic levels for travel overall, but we are seeing certain destinations really recover in terms of where Australians are wanting to travel to.”

A Chinese airline company has just announced new direct flights connecting mainland China with a major Aussie city.

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As Qantas’s grip on the domestic market gets stronger, the airline has slashed prices on international flights to a popular destination.

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Business Events Australia also offers insights on international markets, including the latest trends and information that can help Australian industry develop their marketing and distribution approach.

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New recreational fishing tourism strategy to lure more visitors to South Australia

A new strategy released today aims to grow recreational fishing tourism in south australia to $468 million by 2030..

Developed by the State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission in partnership with RecFish SA, the Recreational Fishing Tourism Strategy 2030 aims to create a thriving and sustainable recreational fishing tourism sector by attracting high-yield fishers from interstate and overseas, while encouraging local fishers to see more of their own backyard.

Around 810,000 leisure visitors to and within South Australia include fishing as part of their trip. This strategy recognises the role that recreational fishing plays as a driver of visitation and aims to build on this momentum.

It is estimated that recreational fishing in South Australia generates $1 billion in economic activity. A subset of this is spent by tourists, with recreational fishing visitors currently spending $403 million throughout the state, mainly in regional areas.

The strategy sets out to tap into the potential to further grow the recreational fishing tourism sector by encouraging fishers who enjoy the activity locally to experience new locations across the state, as well as attract new fishers from interstate and overseas – with a focus on high-yield visitors – to help drive expenditure across regional South Australia.

The strategy was developed with industry and public consultation including meetings with government and industry stakeholders, a public and industry survey, and an opportunity to provide written feedback.

To download a copy of the strategy visit:

https://www.tourism.sa.gov.au/support/industry-resources-and-tools/sector-development/fishing-tourism

Attributable to Zoe Bettison

With 5,000 kilometres of coastline, some of the best beaches in our nation, and the world’s third longest navigable river – the Murray River – running through our state and out to sea, South Australia is well known for its water-based experiences.

One of those water-based experiences is recreational fishing. We know people travel vast distances in pursuit of a particular fish species and in doing so, they contribute valuable tourism dollars into our state and into the many regional seaside and river towns which rely on visitor spend.

I’m thrilled to see the Recreational Fishing Tourism Strategy 2030 released today and look forward to seeing South Australia realise the potential in recreational fishing tourism in our state.

Attributable to Asher Dezsery, Executive Officer, RecFish SA

Recreational Fishing Tourism is a key driver of tourism stays and expenditure to our regions. In fact, recreational fishers make a significant contribution to regional economies, through the purchase of accommodation, dining, hospitality, fuel, bait, and more.

As the peak representative body for recreational fishing in South Australia, RecFish SA is pleased to see the recognition of the importance of recreational fishing to tourism in our state and supports the implementation of this strategy.

By increasing the value and recognition of this sector, we can help drive better experiences for tourists enjoying recreational fishing such as bolstering our programs like fish restocking programs, habitat enhancements and fishing clinics, driving investment in access and infrastructure and supporting community events.

Athelstone, South Australia

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

*Disclaimer:  The information on this website is presented in good faith and on the basis that Tourism Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given in this website. Tourism Australia wishes to advise people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent that this website may contain images of persons now deceased.