Number of Indians visiting Australia increases

"A total of 1,52,500 Indians visited Australia for the year ending June 30 this year, an increase of 5.6 per cent in the corresponding period. This year, till June, 80,300 Indians visited the continent country, which is an increase of 5.4 per cent over the same period last year," a statement by Tourism Australia said.

Of the 1.52 lakh Indians, a high proportion -- 83,704 -- was of those went on a leisure trip, of these 54,250 were visiting friends and relatives while 29,454 for holidaying.

About 27,898 Indians visited for business purposes while 13,933 for education and 26,917 for other purposes.

"This makes India the 10th largest in-bound market for arrivals as on June this year," the statement said.

A total of 5.98 million visitors landed in Australia for the year ending in June, which is an 1.2 per cent increase compared to previous year.

Australia's Tourism Forecasting Council expects 1.53 lakh visitors from India in 2011-12, an increase of 5.7 per cent over 2010-11, which witnessed 144,000 actual arrivals.

India has also turned out to be the 11th largest source market in terms of expenditure and accounts for three per cent of all international expenditure.

An Indian spends an average of 5,230 Australian Dollars and stays for an average of 62 nights, which was much higher than the global average of 36 nights.

Indian leisure visitors stayed an average of 47 nights in Australia, the study has found.

Tourism Australia is responsible for promoting Australia world-wide as the world's best destination for business and leisure.