New accommodation data shows Australia's strong tourism performance

More travellers inAustralia are checking into hotels, motels and serviced apartments, as revealedin today's national accommodation survey.

The AustralianAccommodation Monitor (AAM) reveals occupancy rates averaged 75 per cent in2016-17, an increase of 0.5 per cent on 2015–16. Accommodation takings alsoincreased, with revenue per available room averaging $139 per night – 1.6 percent higher over the same period.

The Turnbull Government isdelivering the AAM in partnership with global data analytics company STR,providing industry with year-on-yearanalysis of occupancyrates and business takings across Australia, to promote investment in the sector.

Tourism Australia's focuson high yielding visitors is paying dividends with the data revealingtravellers have an appetite for high-end offerings, with luxury propertiesrecording an 81 per cent occupancy rate, revenue per available room of $204 pernight, and an average rate paid by visitors of $253 per night. This is apositive signal for existing luxury products, like Luxury Lodges Australia, anda strong gauge of traveller expectations.

The Turnbull Government'sintroduction of the Boosting Business Events Bid Fund will also supportcontinued growth in the luxury category as business travellers spend, onaverage, twice the amount of leisure travellers.

Properties in Australia'smajor cities performed strongly, with an average occupancy rate of almost 80per cent for state and territory capitals – higher than 2015–16. This growth insupply was mainly seen in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.

Revenues per available roomin the capital cities reached $152. Sydney rates continued to climb, reaching$192 per available room, while Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart saw high growththrough increased demand and higher occupancy rates.

There is a strong accommodation pipeline with 18 properties adding 2,650rooms to the market in 2016-17 and an additional 102 stand-alone accommodationprojects worth $10.8 billion expected to add 19,730 rooms once completed.

The Turnbull Government issupporting Australia's $135.5 billion tourism industry as part of its plan tocreate jobs and grow Australia's economy. We are addressing regional dispersalof tourists through our Regional Tourism Infrastructure InvestmentAttraction Strategy.

The next results for 2017-18 will bepublished in October 2018. AAM data can be found at tra.gov.au.