Why are foreign tourists deserting the Outback?
Grey nomads are becoming ever more important to the economic vitality of Australia’s rural communities.
Tourism Research Australia has just released data showing that, even though record numbers of international visitors are heading Downunder, fewer of them are heading bush.
The statistics show that foreign tourists are choosing to stay in the capital cities and coastal hotspots, while giving Outback and regional areas a wide berth. Only 32% of all overseas visitors travelled beyond the gateway cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
There were 17% less overseas visitors in Kakadu last year compared to 2012, 14% fewer in Central New South Wales, and 11% less in Outback Queensland.
On the other hand, all Australian capital cities saw growth in foreign tourist numbers, with Sydney up 6% to 2.8 million international visitors, Melbourne up 11% to 1.8 million, and Brisbane up 2% to just under 1 million foreign tourists.
Some 684,241 foreigners holidayed in Queensland’s Tropical North
“The truth is Australia is no different to most other destinations with the majority of international holiday-makers building their holiday around the major gateways and the capital cities,” Tourism Australia managing director, John O’Sullivan, told the Herald-Sun newspaper. “Aviation access obviously plays a major part in this, as does the sheer size of the country.”
Some of the regional decline can be attributed to local factors. Bad bushfires across regional Victoria are believed to have contributed to the tourist downturn in the Upper Yarra district where foreign tourist numbers plunged by 30%, while widespread flooding can be largely blamed for foreign visitation falling by 20% in Bundaberg in Queensland.
Despite these specific explanations, there is no doubt that there is a wider trend in play. It means that many of Australia’s struggling small towns and villages will be more reliant than ever on the ‘grey dollar’.
Regions with the biggest tourism drops in 2013
Upper Yarra (VIC) -30%
High Country (VIC) -23%
Bundaberg (QLD) -20%
Bendigo Loddon (VIC) -18%
Macedon (VIC) -18%
Kakadu Arnhem (NT) -17%
Central (NSW) -14%
Ballarat (VIC) -14%
Outback (QLD) -11%
Western Grampians (VIC) -11%
I hope that some of the business communities in the areas beyond the range wake up to the fact they need to find ways to attract visitors and customers to their businesses instead of looking for ways to stop us from doing it our way..
The number of free camping stop-over areas for Tourists using Motorhomes / Campervans has declined making it unaffordable to stay in over priced Camping grounds….City / Country Councils should be addressing this problem and not allowing themselves to be bullied by the Camping grounds at the other retailers in towns expense….and maybe Govt. should be looking at subsidising fuel prices in the out-back to help attract holiday makers into the area.
One of the problems is that the tourist information centres don’t push these areas. We were in Cairns a couple of years ago and went to all the info places and no one had any info on the inland towns ie Herberton Ravenshoe. They said no one wanted this info. I said we did and that if they pushed a bit harder they might even get tourist to stay longer. All they were interested in was the reef. So much for tourist info.
I think Australia as a whole should promote and build the outback into a bucket list. If more resource were provided more visitors would come.
Do Cob and Co coach rides. The great musters. 4×4 bush driving and instruction. Work on some of the larger properties as a staff member to get the red dirt onto you. A great opportunity is just waiting to bust out here.
due to the very high travel/flight cost, compared to other places the fares are a rip off. Try getting to Tassie or KI with a caravan, wow.
This is always going to be tough for regions – attracting international visitors! Maybe we need to consider those internationals coming second time round, when they want a richer experience. We need to offer the experiences and we need our city counterparts to help push it out for us. But who us responsible for this? We need the international market to understand that there is more to our country than the harbour bridge and Gold Coast…it has to start at the top!
definatly the over priceing of food and fuel at these places . next I would say the effort that they put into ”STOPPING” free campers ..
As typical “Itchy Feet Aussies” we have been traveling Australia wide in a 25 ft 5th wheeler for years. BUT, due to the trerrible cost to travelling “our OWN land” as to the cost of “travelling the WORLD”, … we have now sold the 5th wheeler, bought a new car and are now doing two cruises/trips overseas (the world) Twice a year! SAD but TRUE, ..we are just too expensive to travel within in Australia.
We(my husband and I) are members of our local caravan club in Pt Augusta in S.A…. We are at the cross roads of Australia, which is the gateway to the outback heading North, South, East and West… A comment was only made yesterday at our monthly meeting about tourists coming to our town and staying over. We have three caravan parks, a cabin park and an overnight facility available in our town at a cost of $7 per night . We are on the Spencer Gulf and have a beautiful view of the magnificent Flinders Rangers. Our town promotes tourism in many ways be it by water, train or tours of the rangers. Our town also house aborigines who are the founders of the town as is many places throughout our beautiful country…. Unfortunately, a lot of people find this offensive and avoid our town and spread word not to stay here. You will find racism is still very much alive in our society and its very hard to get beyond it far as tourism goes. No matter how much your town promotes it.
I for one will definitely come to visit your town.Its with great sadness that i read that people avoid your town because of the aboriginals staying there.They are a great people and its us invaders that must ask their permission first.
where is the $7 overnight stay please
We have been travelling this winter in the outback and as others have mentioned the expenses are eye watering. Terrible food, accomadation prices are pure gouging and as for the cost of visiting attractions. We just cannot and will not support these outrageously priced places. It is a shame because it is just so beautiful and should be a major part of Australian tourism.
How many places have we seen whilst travelling the west coast of WA that have a sign no illegal camping. Place after place. Pity they didn’t provide a bit of service. Fuel prices are very high and in most places grey nomads are treated as a nuisance. Most places put all their resources into stopping free camping!!!
I too do not want to be told how and where to camp..Tourism Australia Do not get it….Councils Do not Get it
Prices have gone up too much. We now only free camp, donation camp or pay $5 a night unpowered. We don’t need facilities at camps sites and find sufficient dump points and water supplies.
Tourist attraction prices have got out of hand. For example Shearers Museum in Hay $15 EACH and is worth paying $3.
States now charge way excessive prices for National Parks so have crossed them off our visiting lists. This is a park use to stop for a few days http://www.parkstay.vic.gov.au/mount-buangor-state-park
no facilities other than unkept long drop dunnies and they now want $34 a night – public servants dreaming on fat cat salaries.
We have now become professional free/very budget campers so we can still afford to travel and REFUSE to use caravan parks anywhere.
Australia is too expensive to travel in for both foreign visitors and locals alike.
Not only are overseas visitors missing from the Australian Outback so to it seems is South Australia from your whole discussion – typical.
We now refuse to pay $34 for a piece of grass and a drop toilet at Johanna Camping Grounds, Victoria. Used to be free. Wake up Councils.
For me its the cost of fuel and councils closeing down free camping areas. I dislike national parks because of the regimentation and cost.
grey nomads dont need jumping castles,kids play grounds, resort style
swiming pools etc just clean facilites at a fair cost.
national parks huge fees are to keep people out of the parks.they are good at this,the parks are empty staff numbers are the same!
so councils if you want support in your town you know what to do.