Australia's tourism set to top predictions

Tourism Australia says the country's tourism industry is on track to be worth $115 billion by 2020
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AUSTRALIA'S tourism industry is on track to be worth $115 billion by 2020, $18 billion more than predicted, the nation's tourism board says.

The nation has seen growth in both international and domestic tourists in the past three years despite the high Australian dollar. The industry was worth $69 billion in 2010 and was predicted to grow to $97 billion within a decade.

However, the industry will surpass this prediction and is set to hit $115 billion, Tourism Australia boss Andrew McEvoy says. The organisation set a goal for the industry to be worth between $115 billion and $140 billion by 2020.

"The good news is that after three good years we're on track to get to the bottom end of that," he told reporters at the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Sydney on Friday.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Australia ranks 42nd for international tourist arrivals.

"But we're number eight in the world for tourism receipts, that's spend by visitors in our country," Mr McEvoy said.

"We are in many ways a boutique destination that will never win in volume but can win for yield."

Last year 6.1 million international tourists flocked to Australia, up five per cent on the previous year.

The number of Chinese visitors accounted for about a third of the growth, with 626,000 Chinese heading Down Under last year compared to 542,000 in 2011.

By 2020 the Chinese tourism market is predicted to be worth $7.4 billion to $9 billion to the Australian economy.

More than 1300 delegates from 500 Australian tourism operations and 700 international tourism wholesalers will attend the ATE from April 26-30.

Original post @ http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/australias-tourism-set-to-top-predictions/story-e6frfku9-1226630268612

Tourism earned P47.2 billion in Q1

ABOUT 1.2 million foreign visitors arrived in the Philippines in the first three months of 2013, increasing by 4.5 percent the figures registered during the same period last year.

Tourists visiting the Philippines also increased their average expenditure from $84 per night in 2010 to $93 per night now or $960 for the whole stay of an average tourist in the country, Tourism Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz said on Tuesday.

The cumulative revenue from the foreign tourist arrivals amounted to $1.15 billion, or P47.2 billion at the current exchange rate, from January to March this year. In 2011 the estimated total revenue from foreign tourist arrivals was P100 billion for the entire year.

In its campaign to boost tourism, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said it will seek to improve tourist infrastructure and facilities such as roads and hotels; develop human resources and local governance in tourist areas to make these attractive to visitors; and aggressively expand tourist markets and local products that are attractive to visitors.

While the country’s white-sand beaches and resorts have been big attractions to foreign tourists, Corpuz said the Philippines has more to offer, aside from “sand, sea and sun tourism.”

The DOT is also developing the country as model site for tourist conventions and meetings, a diving and marine sports mecca and a center for English-language studies, especially for students from China, South Korea and Japan who wish to learn English.

Corpuz also said the Philippines is also being developed as a retirement haven, as well as a center for wellness and medical tourism.

“The country is well on its way to achieving its 5-million tourist-arrival target for 2013,” he added.

The department failed to reach its 4.6-percent annual tourist target last year; it recorded only 4.2 million foreign tourist arrivals. In 2014 Corpuz said, the department is targeting 10 million foreign arrivals.

Original post @ http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/news/top-news/12510-tourism-earned-p47-2-billion-in-q1