More Aussies choosing to holiday on our own shores

Aussies are choosing to holiday in their own backyard and are spendingrecord amounts, according to the latest National Visitor Survey.

The results show visitor spending by Australians soared to a record$67.5 billion, an increase of eight per cent and Australians took a record100.3 million domestic overnight trips during the year ending June 2018, anincrease of seven per cent.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment said this was the first timethe number of overnight trips taken by Australians at home had reached the 100million mark.

"This is an impressive result forour tourism industry with more Aussies holidaying at home and for longer,whilst also spending record amounts," Minister Birmingham said.

"More Aussiesholidaying in our own backyard teamed with record spending is a great boost forAustralian businesses and helps contribute to a stronger economy.

"With 1 in 13Australians already employed in the tourism industry, these strong results willonly help to create more jobs for Australians.

"These results are on the back ofrecent strong international tourist figures which showed overseas travellersspent a record $42.3 billion for the year ending March 2018.

"We'reexperiencing a real purple patch when it comes to tourism in this country andthe Liberal-National Government continues to deliver record funding to TourismAustralia so we can continue growing this booming industry."

Minister Birmingham also said more Australians were turning to natureand the great outdoors for their holidays.

"Trips that includedbushwalking increased 14 per cent to 12.4 million. Visits to national or stateparks were up 12 per cent to 11.8 million, while visits to the beach were up 5per cent to 23.8 million," Minister Birmingham said.

"Our naturalbeauty is one of our greatest assets and it's great to see Australians arefully taking advantage of the natural diversity our country has to offer.

"Whether it behitting up the Heysen Trail in SA, four-wheel driving on Fraser Island, orwhale watching off Eden – there is no shortage of unique experiences andadventures to be had."

TheNational Visitor Survey results are available from www.tra.gov.au.