Domestic visitor numbers hide regional woes
The green shoots of recovery in the domestic tourism industry risk being trampled on by the new tax regime coming into force, the industry’s peak body Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) has warned.
TTF chief John Lee said figures from the latest National Visitor Survey for he first quarter 2012 were encouraging. "We’re seeing domestic visits up five per cent, nights up six per cent and expenditure up 10%, which is proof that the industry is fighting back.
"But look a little deeper and you see that the figures confirm what most people in the industry already know: the growth is not evenly spread across states.
"It’s no secret that sectors of the industry are struggling. Queensland figures are especially strong relative to the state’s disastrous first quarter of 2011 (due to flooding), while the apparent boom in West Australian traffic reflects the boom in that state’s mining sector," Lee said.
"This growth is at risk, however, by new taxes about to hit the sector. There will be the carbon tax from July 1, which will be compounded by an increase in the departure tax, which will hit international visitors transferring to domestic flights.
"Finally, major airports will also have to pay for Australian Federal Police presence, despite taxpayers having already paid for policing."
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations