Aviation takes off, inbound tourism still in the queue
SYDNEY – The latest International Airline Activity data from Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) show the aviation sector slowly turning the corner, according to the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF).
Passengers carried in the month of August grew by 3.7 per cent to two million – the strongest monthly performance of the year once seasonal effects are considered.
“For the period January to July there was no increase in international passenger movements in and out of Australian airports. So this 3.7 per cent increase in August is a welcome return to growth,†said TTF executive director Brett Gale.
However, he cautioned that this growth was being driven by Australians holidaying overseas.
“Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures for August showed Australian departures rose by 8.5 per cent while international visitors fell 0.3 per cent.
“While there is good news in these numbers for airports and airlines the local tourism industry is not yet reaping the rewards.
“It’s also important to remember that a key trigger for this growth has been the availability of cheap airfares – which Australians have been taking advantage of but which can’t last.â€
Gale said the relatively strong Australian economy and a strong exchange rate were providing a boon for overseas travel but making it difficult for domestic tourism businesses to compete.
“The tourism sector has endured a triple whammy in 2009 of the GFC, swine flu and now a rising dollar.
Ian Jarrett
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