Tourism retains super growth status

The tourism industry retains its super growth status with the sector growing more than three times as fast as the rest of the economy for the 2015-16 year,the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Tourism Satellite Account released today reveals.

The Tourism Satellite Account is published annually by the ABS and estimates the economic contribution of the tourism industry to the Australian economy.

Growing at 7.4 per cent over the 12 month period, the direct contribution of the tourism industry to Gross Domestic Product reached $52.9 billion. Theindustry continued to employ more Australians, with more than 580,000 jobs linked directly to the sector. One in 20 Australians now work directly intourism-related jobs, including in accommodation, aviation and attractions.

Tourism continues to be one of Australia's largest and fastest growing export earners, with exports increasing by 11.1 per cent to $34.2 billion, thehighest increase since Australia hosted the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000.

The Coalition is supporting the tourism industry with a record $639 million investment in Tourism Australia for offshore marketing. We are also makingsubstantial improvements to Australia's visa system, including multiple entry visas and premium processing services.

The Turnbull Government recently settled arrangements for a landmark open aviation market between Australia and China which will drive further growth,particularly as we enter 2017 which has been designated by Prime Minister Turnbull and President Xi Jinping as the Australia-China Year of Tourism.