Tourism in Australia facts for kids
Tourism in Australia is a really important part of the country's economy. It includes both people visiting from other countries and Australians exploring their own land. Australia is one of the most visited countries in the world. In 2018-2019, tourism was Australia's fourth-biggest export. It added about A$60.8 billion to the country's economy.
In 2019, about 8.7 million people from other countries visited Australia. Tourism also created jobs for 666,000 people in Australia during 2018-2019. That's about 1 in every 21 jobs!
Some of the most popular places to visit in Australia are the big cities like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Other famous spots include the Gold Coast, the amazing Great Barrier Reef (the world's largest reef), Uluru, the Australian outback, and the wild Tasmanian wilderness. Australia's unique animals are also a huge reason why people love to visit.
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How Tourism Has Grown
Even with global challenges, tourism in Australia has kept growing. More people from other countries have been visiting. In 2010-2011, a record 7.4 million Australians also traveled overseas.
The Australian Government predicted that by 2020, the tourism industry could be worth up to $140 billion. A lot of this growth was expected to come from new markets, especially China. China was predicted to be the biggest contributor to Australian tourism. The number of Chinese visitors grew a lot, reaching over 1.4 million in 2019. They spent about A$12 billion in Australia. Chinese visitors are known for spending the most money when they visit.
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This chart shows how many short-term visitors arrived in Australia each month since 1976.
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This chart shows how many long-term visitors arrived in Australia each month since 1976.
Getting a Visa to Visit Australia
Most people who want to visit Australia need a special document called a visa. The only exception is people from New Zealand.
Visitors from countries in the European Union or Schengen Area can apply online for an "eVisitor" visa. People from some other countries can apply for a similar "Electronic Travel Authority" (ETA) visa online.
A Look Back at Australian Travel
In the past, Australians were used to traveling a lot. They often moved around to find work or settle down. Even though early travel was tough, by coach, horseback, or ship, Australians were adventurous. Travel was mostly for work or settling in new places.
Things started to change with the arrival of train travel. People began to travel more for fun. Popular holiday spots were near big cities, like the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. Train services made it easier to reach these places.
After the Second World War, travel really took off. New ways to travel, like faster ocean liners and especially airplanes, made it easier and cheaper to go places. The "Jet Age" began in 1960, making the world feel much smaller. People also had more money and free time.
Australia saw a big increase in people traveling within the country. More Australians owned cars and had paid holidays. This led to new hotels and resorts being built all over Australia. Highways were improved, and national parks became more accessible.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed travel a lot. For a while, Australians mostly traveled within their own states. But by late 2021, borders started opening again. Fully vaccinated Australians could travel overseas, and visitors from some countries were allowed to enter Australia.
Who Helps with Tourism?
Several groups help manage and promote tourism in Australia. The Australian Trade and Investment Commission handles tourism policies for the government. Tourism Australia is in charge of marketing Australia to the world. Each state and territory also has its own tourism departments and marketing groups.
Promoting Australia to the World
Australia's international tourism ads often show its relaxed style. A famous campaign from the 1980s featured actor Paul Hogan inviting American tourists to "slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you."
More recently, Tourism Australia launched the "There's Nothing Like Australia" campaign. This campaign asked Australians to share their favorite places and experiences. The idea was that Australians know their country best and can help promote it to the world.
Types of Visitors
Visitors from Other Countries
In 2019, most international visitors came from China, New Zealand, the United States, and the UK. The number of visitors from China and the United States grew a lot since the early 2000s.
Many visitors came for holidays or to study. In 2019, holiday visitors increased by 4% and spent $16.9 billion.
Backpackers
Australia is very popular with "backpackers." These are often young people from countries like Canada, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and many European countries. Backpackers usually spend more time exploring the country. Many of them get "working holiday visas," which let them work for a short time to help fund their travels. These visas are usually for people aged 18 to 30.
Australian Tourists
Australians love to travel within their own country. There are many seaside towns, especially with good surfing beaches. There are also mountain retreats, national parks, fishing spots, and wine regions. Domestic tourism is very popular during school holidays.
In 2012, many Australians enjoyed free caravan and camping sites. However, some travel agents have warned that cheap flights to Asia might make fewer Australians choose to holiday at home.
Where Visitors Come From
| Country | 2000 | 2005 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 China |
120,000 | 250,000 | 708,900 | 839,000 | 1,310,900 | 1,323,000 |
 New Zealand |
817,000 | 1,098,900 | 1,100,000 | 1,241,400 | 1,309,000 | 1,272,000 |
 United Kingdom |
580,400 | 708,800 | 657,600 | 652,100 | 688,400 | 674,000 |
 United States |
488,100 | 370,300 | 393,100 | 411,000 | 433,300 | 764,000 |
 Singapore |
285,700 | 266,100 | 339,800 | 372,100 | 395,800 | 407,000 |
 Japan |
820,000 | 685,300 | 324,400 | 326,500 | 335,500 | 445,000 |
 Malaysia |
152,100 | 166,000 | 278,100 | 324,500 | 338,800 | 346,000 |
 South Korea |
157,400 | 250,500 | 197,500 | 204,100 | 230,100 | 256,000 |
 Hong Kong |
154,100 | 159,500 | 183,500 | 201,600 | 219,700 | 280,000 |
 India |
n/a | n/a | 168,600 | 196,600 | 233,100 | 350,000 |
| Total | 4,931,400 | 5,499,100 | 6,382,000 | 6,868,000 | 7,428,600 | 8,600,000 |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics | ||||||
Top Attractions in Australia
Amazing Destinations
Hervey Bay is a popular town for tourists, especially for watching whales. You can see whales in many other places along Australia's coast too.
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. It's in Queensland and has rainforests, eucalyptus forests, and huge sand dunes. You can reach the island by ferry or by chartered flight.
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef attracts millions of visitors every year. It's carefully managed to make sure tourists don't harm the reef. Uluru, Kakadu National Park, and Fraser Island are also major natural attractions. Uluru was even named Australia's best major tourist attraction in 2013!
Sydney Opera House
Another famous place that many tourists visit is the Sydney Opera House. Many wealthy Chinese visitors also enjoy shopping and casinos. Australia's wine regions, Indigenous culture, and nature tours are also popular.
Exciting Events
Big events bring in lots of tourists. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is an annual event that attracts thousands of international visitors.
The 2000 Sydney Olympics brought many visitors to Sydney. During the games, Sydney hosted over 360,000 Australian visitors and 110,000 international visitors. The 2003 Rugby World Cup also attracted 65,000 international visitors. Schoolies Week is a yearly celebration for high school leavers, many of whom travel to the Gold Coast.
Australia's Famous Icons
Here are some of Australia's most famous places that tourists love to visit:
- Great Barrier Reef
- Red Centre
- Great Ocean Road
- Barossa Valley
- Kakadu
- The Kimberley
- Kangaroo Island
- Byron Bay
- Tasmanian Wilderness
- Australian Alps
- Ningaloo
- Flinders Ranges
- Fraser Island
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Freycinet
- Gippsland
- Uluru
- Coober Pedy
- Sydney Opera House
- Phillip Island
- Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Blue Mountains
- Namadgi National Park
More to Explore
