Australia is fast becoming a destination for work, as well as play, with new Tourism Research Australia (TRA) figures estimating $10 billion was spent in 2011 by business event visitors. 

 

The Business Events Visitors 2011 snapshot shows that business travel has recovered from the Global Financial Crisis and a $1.8 billion decline in visitor expenditure in 2009.

 

The Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, said Australia is increasingly seen as an attractive option for international business event visitors.

 

“Compared to 2010, international business event visitor expenditure rose by 14 per cent and international business event visitor numbers rose by eight per cent to 881,000,” Minister Ferguson said.

 

“International business event visitors have also spent more time in the country, an increase of 12 per cent to 14 million nights in 2011.

 

“This is important for the industry as the business travel market is a high-yield market, with business event travellers generally spending $100 per night more than other types of traveller,” said Mr Ferguson.