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Results of a survey reveal that travellers still rank Australia as the world's most must-see destination.
17 May 2011
Australia revealed as top tourist destination for backpackers
Even in the face of stiff competition from other destinations and a strong currency, results of a survey revealed at an Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) conference have shown that travellers still rank Australia as the world's most must-see destination.
The announcement was made at Airlie Beach today as part of the ATEC Backpacker and Youth Industry Conference. The survey of almost 1,000 backpackers was undertaken by ATEC in association with Tourism Australia and facilitated by Global Gossip, an Internet cafe network.
Speaking on the results of the survey that showed Australia is still the top of the 'bucket list' for most tourists and backpackers, ATEC'S Managing Director, Felicia Mariani said:
"Australia remains a highly desirable place for the backpacker market, it's a dream destination for those looking for excitement and adventure.
"What we have to ensure is that, as a destination, we continually strive to provide competitive products and experiences with high quality service standards that will keep us ahead of the competition."
One point of concern cited by Ms Mariani was the discovery that New Zealand is out-performing Australia in terms of meeting visitor expectations.
Speaking on the issue, Ms Mariani commented: "Australia clearly tops the 'to-do' list for backpackers and our research showed many of these visitors are willing to return here, but we need to continue to improve our product offering."
"One of the primary defence lines the backpacker sector has against the high Australian dollar is the Working Holiday Visa, which can really make the difference in a visitor's decision to come here and how long they stay."
The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge their Australia visa application with the Australian High Commission.
