Josh Daly, Max Carroll, Pat Camm and Alex Kane travelled to Canberra to watch the British and Irish Lions play the ACT Brumbies. Photo: Melissa Adams
International visits to Canberra have increased by 10 per cent in the past year, double the national figure, according to new Tourism Research Australia data.
At a time when Canberra's economy appears to be slowing, the ACT recorded its highest number of international visitors since the 2000 Olympics, with 180,380 overseas travellers coming to the territory in 2012-13.
The figure is a 10.4 per cent boost on visitor numbers for 2011-12, when the ACT recorded 163,375 international tourists.
China brought the greatest number of visitors to the capital this year, with 22,000 visiting Canberra, followed by the USA, with 20,000 and the United Kingdom on 18,000.
The number of visitors from Singapore rose to 7000 and Malaysia to 5000, which ACT Tourism Minister Andrew Barr said would help Canberra's case for direct international flights to and from Singapore.
Mr Barr said major events, particularly June's ACT Brumbies and British and Irish Lions match, had been a lure for international visitors.
"In terms of the annual result, this is the best since the Sydney Olympic year, which was obviously a high point in Australian tourism," Mr Barr said.
"The centenary year is certainly delivering thus far on its tourism outcomes internationally and in the domestic figures as well."
The survey showed most international tourists visited Canberra for leisure or to see family and friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment