FED: Tourists spent over $70 billion in last financial year

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FED: Tourists spent over $70 billion in last financial year

By Chris Herde

BRISBANE, April 9 AAP - Domestic and international tourists spent $71.2 billion ongoods and services in Australia in the last financial year, according to new figures.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics' Australian Tourism Satellite Accounts found spendingwas up 10 per cent in 2000-2001 on the previous 12 months and accounted for 4.7 per centof GDP.

"The results confirm that tourism is integral to the Australian economy, underpinninga wide range of industries," federal Tourism Minister Joe Hockey said.

The survey found tourism activities employed about 551,000 people or six per cent ofthe total workforce.

International visitors made up 24 per cent of the total tourism spending, up 17 percent on the previous financial year because of the Sydney Olympics.

Inbound tourism's foreign exchange contribution jumped 33 per cent in three years from$12.8 billion for 1997-98 to $17 billion for the 2000-01 period.

But the industry warned the effects of September 11 and the Ansett collapse were expectedto impact significantly on the 2001-2002 figures.

Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Peter Shelley said the figuresreflected an "Olympic factor".

"But these figures are very welcome for an industry that experienced the full turmoilof recent events such as S11 and the demise of Ansett," he said.

Tourism Task Force chief executive Christopher Brown said the industry paid $5.5 billionin net annual taxes between 1998 and 2001.

He said tourism was paying its own way and was carrying the load for many other industries.

"Federal and state governments combined contribute approximately $300 million to tourismmarketing programs yet they collect a staggering $5.5 billion in product taxes alone,"

Mr Brown said.

"When company tax from tourism businesses and income tax from tourism employees isincluded, the annual government take would exceed $10 billion.

"A challenge for the tourism industry is to ensure that it receives a level of politicalrecognition to match its economic contribution," Mr Brown said.

AAP ch/sc/ldj/sb

KEYWORD: TOURISM ACCOUNTS