By Roy Weavers

Tourism minister Martin Ferguson has claimed Australia out performed the rest of the world last year after latest figures showed international arrivals held steady at 5.6 million.

The latest International Visitor Survey from Tourism Australia showed visitor nights increased by 6% while visitor expenditure increased by 5%.  Increases in visitor nights and spending were driven by growth in the education and backpacker markets, Ferguson said. “Australia has done what it always does well – held up when the chips are down,” Ferguson said.

Meanwhile, the Tourism and Transport Forum warned the country will soon face
increased competition from the US, which has passed a Travel Promotion Act.  “This program will help pay for a $200 million ad campaign which will present a huge challenge to other destinations – including Australia,” TTF executive director Brett Gale commented.

Editors Comments: I say, "Bring it on". If we get our "Open ALL year" message out to Europe and USA, we won't lose any business to the USA.  Hey, you've even got pay an extra levy just to go visit America, if you come to Port Douglas, we won't pay you but we'll shout you a drink".