OVERSEAS VISITORS TO AUSTRALIA ON THE RISE

MELBOURNE, June 10 (Bernama) -- International travel to Australia increased
over the first three months of 2010.

International Visitor Survey quarterly results released on Wednesday show
visitor numbers for the March quarter up six per cent, nights up eight per cent
and expenditure up three per cent.

For the year ending March 2010, visitor numbers were up three per cent,
nights up five per cent and expenditure up four per cent.

There was also growth in the visiting friends and relatives market for the
quarter and year ending March 2010, with China and India prominent.

For the first time in many quarters, there was an increase in Japanese
visitors, up three per cent on the March 2009 quarter.

During the year ending in March there were 5.2 million visitors to Australia
with 46 per cent coming for a holiday and 25 per cent visiting friends and
relatives.

Most visitors came from New Zealand, with just over a million, followed by
Britain, the United States and China while total spending was A$17 billion over
the 12 months.

Backpackers made up 11 per cent of visitors and spent 44 million nights in
Australia with an average expenditure of just under A$6000 or A$79 a night,
with an average stay of 74 nights.
-- BERNAMA