19 March 2008

Spotlight on the future of the backpacker industry

The future of the $3.1 billion Australian backpacker tourism industry will come under the spotlight at a national backpacker conference being held next month in Newcastle and The Hunter, organisers have said.

More than one hundred influential industry players, decision-makers and tourism product suppliers from across the country will attend the all-day backpacker conference, organised as part of the Australian Tourism Export CouncilÃ¢â¬â¢s (ATEC) Symposium, AustraliaÃ¢â¬â¢s key annual inbound tourism conference.

ATEC Managing Director Matt Hingerty said the backpacker sector was one of the most important elements of the Australian inbound tourism industry.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIn 2007 more than 566,000 backpackers came to Australia, which is 11% of the entire inbound market*,Ã¢â¬~ Mr Hingerty said.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœBackpackers arenÃ¢â¬â¢t afraid to take their time, get out of the capital cities and into regional Australia Ã¢â¬' and it shows. The average backpacker stays for 71 nights and spends $5481*, which saw the total backpacker sector spend rise by more than ten percent last year.Ã¢â¬~

Ã¢â¬ÅâœBackpackers are after the genuine Australian experience Ã¢â¬' and the Newcastle and Hunter regions, with their world-leading food and wine products, are the perfect fit,Ã¢â¬~ Mr Hingerty said.

"Increasing competition from overseas means it is becoming harder than ever to maintain and build our share of the global tourism market. Showcasing regions such as the Hunter to the rest of the world is a vital element of our strategy to develop Australia's future inbound tourism prospects."

Mr Hingerty said that the potential of Newcastle Airport as one of Australia's leading regional aviation hubs, as well as the excellent tourism and holiday experiences on offer in the region meant Newcastle was an ideal location to host the backpacker conference.

"ATEC is proud to be bringing Australian backpacker operators to the Hunter region," Mr Hingerty said. "They will see for themselves the world-class attractions and experiences available to global visitors in the Hunter."

"One of Tourism Australia's stated aims is to encourage incoming tourists out of the capital cities and to have a look around, to experience what makes our country unique. The Newcastle and Hunter areas are great examples of destinations with the potential to take advantage of this regional push," Mr Hingerty said.

A Report by The Mole