U.S. Servicemen Boost Australian Tourism

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31780, 10 September 1968, Page 6

U.S. Servicemen Boost Australian Tourism

United States servicemen from Vietnam visiting Australia on rest-and-recupera-tlon leave now comprise about a fifth of all Australia’s overseas visitors—and the proportion is likely to grow. Figures released by the Australian Tourist Commission show that almost 28,000 United States servicemen came to Australia in the first six months of 1968, at the rate of about 4500 a month —and this is expected to rise soon to about 7000 a month. United States servicemen boosted Australian overseasvisitor figures to such an extent during the first half of this year that the over-all total of 135,285 short-term visitors (excluding cruise passengers) represented an increase of 36 per cent over the same period last year. Without them, the total was 107,538—8 per cent up on last year. Other highlights of the sixmonth period were:— United States visitors totalled 18,800—a rise of 25 per cent over the same period last year. A rise of 32 per cent in Japanese visitors, with 3200 arrivals. Increases of 17 per cent from South Africa (1100 visitors) and 15 per cent from Malaysia-Singapore (4600). British - visitor traffic was up 8 per cent, and New Zealand traffic slightly down. Pleasure visitors were predominant among Australia’s overseas visitors during the period, comprising 83,000 arrivals.

There were 22.000 business visitors and 18,000 in transit Overseas visitors are estimated by the commission to have spent about SAS6 million during the six months to June 30, at an average of more than $3OO a head (excluding air or sea fares to and from Australia), or about $lO a day.