Minister Barr: Australian visitors discovering Canberra’s appeal in record numbers
- Written by ACT Government
Released 21/06/2017
Australians visiting the nation’s capital have injected $1.572 billion into the ACT’s economy - a 16.3 per cent increase on the previous year and a new Territory record.
Visitors to Canberra increased almost three per cent to 2,501,000 for the year ending March 2017, according to Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey released today.
The growth was driven by very strong performance in the Holiday sector, with a massive 50.2 per cent increase in people in this sector staying overnight. There were 1,981,000 overnight visitors in the year ending March 2017, compared to 1,319,000 for the year ending March 2016.
Visitors coming to Canberra for the purpose of a Holiday came from the key interstate markets of Sydney (up 21.1 per cent), regional NSW (up 46.4 per cent) and Melbourne (up 73 per cent). Growth from the Melbourne market is particularly pleasing given recent cooperative marketing undertaken since Tigerair commenced direct daily flights to the capital in December 2016.
These figures are complemented by recent growth in international tourism to Canberra, which included a seven per cent increase in international visitors and a 28 per cent rise in expenditure in the year ending March 2017 when compared to the previous year. International tourism figures continue to be boosted by the direct international flight service provided by Singapore Airlines.
The domestic tourism results reflect the ACT Government’s concerted marketing efforts to attract more visitors. Through VisitCanberra’s ongoing marketing activities and event funding programs using its One Good Thing After Another campaign, the attraction of Canberra as a diverse and exciting short break destination is definitely getting out across the country.
The ACT Government will continue working towards the goal of growing the ACT’s overnight visitor expenditure to $2.5 billion by 2020.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
