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
.

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