Tourism Australia welcomed 21,700 visitors from India during the month of May 2014, bringing the total for the five months to May 2014 to 83,450, an increase of 19 per cent relative to the same period previous year. The Total arrivals for the year ended (YE) May 2014 were 182,000, an increase of 15 per cent relative to the same period previous year. Leisure arrivals during this period, however, increased by 26 per cent. This makes India the 10th largest inbound market for arrivals as at YE May 2014.
In the year ending May 2014, a high proportion of Indian visitors visited Australia for leisure (120,250). Other visitors visited for business (24,650), education (11,200) and other purposes (25,900). Leisure visitors are on holiday (41,750) or visiting friends and relatives (78,500).
The Tourism Forecasting Committee (TFC) is forecasting 179,000 visitors from India for 2013-14, a 9.3 per cent increase over 2012-13. There were 164,000 actual arrivals in 2012-13, 7.5 per cent increase over 2011-12. Arrivals from India are expected to perform well with an average annual financial year growth rate of 7.2 per cent through to the financial year 2021-22.
For 12 months ending March 2014, Indian visitors contributed A$ 716 million to Australia’s total expenditure. India is the 11th largest source market in terms of expenditure. Average expenditure for Indian visitors was A$ 4,406.
