FED: Overseas visitors jump 10 per cent in February

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2000
FED: Overseas visitors jump 10 per cent in February

BRISBANE, April 17 AAP - The number of overseas visitors to Australia in February was
up by more than 10 per cent on the same time last year, figures released today show.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) overseas arrivals and departures survey found
439,200 people came to Australia in February for a holiday, to visit friends and relatives
or to conduct business.

This was up on the February 1999 figure of 398,600 by 10.2 per cent.

One of the standout performances in February was from the Japanese market, which recorded
a 10.5 per cent rise on the same time last year.

The rise went a long way to reversing January's disastrous 17.5 per cent drop in one
of Australia's most important markets.

Also to shine in the second month of 2000 was Europe which recorded a 12.5 per cent
rise on the same time last year while Asia, excluding Japan, had a 10.1 per cent increase.

From July 1999 to February, 2000, almost 3.2 million short-term visitors arrived in
Australia, eight per cent up on the eight months to February 1999.

In January, 246,900 people departed Australia for a holiday or on business,an increase
of 6.1 per cent on the same period last year.

The main destinations for Australians were New Zealand (17 per cent), the United States
(11), the United Kingdom (seven) and Indonesia (eight).

AAP ch/sc/cjh

KEYWORD: ARRIVALS

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