Tourism Satellite Accounts 2014-2015 were released this week. Key results:

• Direct tourism GDP increased 5.3 per cent (or $2.4 billion) to $47.5 billion. Over the same period, the Australian economy grew at a slower rate (up 1.6 per cent). Tourism’s share of total GDP increased strongly to 3.0 per cent.
• Domestic tourism GDP increased 4.1 per cent (or $1.4 billion) to $34.2 billion, with domestic tourism responsible for 72 per cent of total direct tourism GDP.
• International tourism GDP increased 8.3 per cent (or $1.0 billion) to $13.3 billion, with international tourism responsible for 28 per cent of total direct tourism GDP.
• Direct tourism employment increased 6.3 per cent (or 34,300 jobs) to 580,800. At the same time, total employment in Australia increased 1.8 per cent. This resulted in tourism’s share of total employment increasing to 5.0 per cent.
• More than half (54 per cent) of persons employed in tourism were female. The number of females working in tourism increased 6.1 per cent to 313,700. The number of males employed in tourism increased by 6.5 per cent to 267,100
• Tourism hours worked were 5.2 per cent higher than in 2013–14.
• Total tourism consumption in Australia increased 4.3 per cent (or $4.9 billion) to $121 billion. Domestic visitor consumption increased 2.7 per cent (or by $2.4 billion) to $90.5 billion and International visitor consumption (or tourism exports) increased 9.0 per cent to $30.7 billion.
• Tourism exports represent around 9.6 per cent share of total Australian exports. Tourism imports (or consumption made by Australians when travelling overseas) decreased 3.6 per cent to $34.5 billion. As a consequence, the tourism trade deficit halved to $3.8 billion from $7.6 billion in 2013–14.

ABS: 5249.0 – Australian National Accounts: Tourism Satellite Account, 2014-15
TRA: Tourism Satellite Account 2014-2015

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