CANBERRA, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Australians are holidaying domestically in record numbers, providing the nation's tourism industry with a boost.
Steve Ciobo, Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment on Wednesday launched the National Visitor Survey which revealed that spending by domestic tourists increased 6 percent in 2017 to -64.5 billion AU dollars (49.6 billion U.S. dollars).
Overall, Australians took 97.2 million domestic overnight trips in 2017, accounting for a total of 351 million nights spent away from home within the country.
"Combined with the record 41.3 billion AU dollars (31.7 billion U.S. dollars) spent by international tourists during the same period, total tourism spending has reached a new record of almost 106 billion AU dollars (81.5 billion U.S. dollars), up six percent on the previous year," Ciobo said in a media release on Wednesday.
"This record spending by tourists is driving economic growth and helping create new jobs across the country."
The survey recorded growth across all purposes of overnight visit categories with holiday trips up 6 percent, trips to visit friends and relatives up 5 percent and trips for business up 12 percent.
"There was strong growth in interstate overnight travel where trips increased eight percent to reach 31.9 million, nights increased four percent to 160 million, and spend six percent to reach a record 35.9 billion AU dollars (27.6 billion U.S. dollars)," the report said.
Ciobo highlighted record participation in outdoor activities with visits to national or state parks and bushwalking trips up 14 percent, snow skiing up 37 percent and water activities or sports up 20 percent.
"It is great to see Aussies are getting out and enjoying our beautiful country. Holidaying at home supports our economy and local jobs," he said.
