A record number of 27,400 Indian tourists visited Australia in May, indicating the rising popularity of the continent country among domestic travellers as a leisure holiday destination.
As compared to 27,400 tourists in May 2016, as many as 23,100 Indian travellers had visited the land of kangaroos in May 2015, registering a healthy growth of 18.61 per cent, Tourism Australia said in a statement here today.
The figure also indicated highest-ever tourist visits from India (month-wise).
Total arrivals for the year (ended May 2016) grew by 8 per cent to 2,38,000 from 2,19,400 in the last year, making India the ninth largest inbound market for arrivals to Australia, it said.
Buoyed by the response, Australia is expecting India to be among its top five tourism markets in a decade.
"It is a significant and momentous occasion for us to see such a great response from the Indian market. Our marketing activities in collaboration with our key distribution and airline partners, with an increased thrust on digital initiatives, improved air connectivity between the two countries, stability of the Australian dollar and introduction of pilot electronic lodgement of visa applications, have been key factors in boosting travel to Australia," said Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia Country Manager (India & Gulf).
"By 2025, we expect India to be among the top five markets for Tourism Australia," he said.
The Tourism Forecasting Committee (TFC) is estimating 2,45,000 visitors from India in July 2015-June 2016, a 12 per cent increase over 2014-15, the release said.
Arrivals from India are expected to perform well with an average annual financial year growth rate of 7.2 per cent through to the fiscal 2021-22, Tourism Australia added.
The continent country, surrounded by Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, is known for its Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, the vast Outback (interior desert wilderness) and unique animal species, including kangaroos.
The geographically vast country provides sightseers with aquatic, coastal, nature and wildlife experiences, among other attractions.
