\ YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER Domestic Visitation to the Northern Territory 20 Year ending September 20
YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 20 DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITORS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY VISITORS 1.55 MILLION NIGHTS 9.65 MILLION EXPENDITURE $1.82 BILLION 0.4% 0.3% 1.5% TOP END DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITATION CENTRAL AUSTRALIA DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITATION DOMESTIC DAY VISITORS IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY 22% VISITORS 1.23 MILLION EXPENDITURE $146 MILLION 30%
Summary of the Domestic Overnight Market for the Top End and Central Australia Domestic all-purpose visitation decreased by -0.6% to 1.1 million visitors for the Top End and by -1.6% to 5,000 visitors for Central Australia for the YE September 20. Domestic visitation for September 20 quarter (July- August-September) increased strongly by 28% for the Top End and by 1.8% for Central Australia. Domestic visitors for all-purposes spent less in the Top End (down -5.3% to $1.2 billion) but more in Central Australia (up +4.7% to $621 million) in the YE September 20. Domestic visitors to Central Australia stayed for fewer nights (down -9.8% to 2.6 million visitor nights) while the Top End was higher (up +3.6% to 6.8 million visitor nights). Holiday visitor nights in the Top End went up by +11% to 2.5 million nights while for Central Australia, there was a decrease in holiday visitor nights, down -7.5% to 1.3 million nights. The decrease in overall all-purpose domestic visitation to the NT for the YE September 20 was influenced by a decline in interstate visitation to Central Australia, as well as a decrease in intra-territory visitation to the Top End. There was an increase in all-purpose intra-territory visitation to Central Australia, while for the Top End there was an increase in interstate visitation. Holiday visitation, however, increased for both the Top End and Central Australia (up +4.4% to 421,000 visitors and up +27% to 288,000 visitors, respectively). Domestic holiday visitation for September 20 quarter (July- August-September) increased by 4.5% for The Top End and very strongly by 32% for Central Australia. For Central Australia, intra-territory holiday visitation increased (up +71%) along with interstate holiday visitation (up +16%). For the Top End, both intra- Territory and interstate holiday visitation increased (up +3.5% and +5.2% respectively). DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT TOP END VISITATION SUMMARY Year ending September 20 DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT CENTRAL AUSTRALIA VISITATION SUMMARY INTRA-TERRITORY AND INTERSTATE DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITATION TO THE TOP END AND CENTRAL AUSTRALIA All purpose of visit 20 20 Holiday 20 20 Visitors ('000) 1,115 1,108-0.6% 403 421 4.4% Visitor nights ('000) 6,565 6,803 3.6% 2,213 2,464 11% Expenditure ($ million) 1,229 1,164-5.3% Average length of stay (nights) 5.9 6.1 0.3 5.5 5.9 0.4 Average spend per trip ($) 1,103 1,051-4.7% Visitor market share of Australia (%) 1.2 1.1-0.1pp 1.1 1.0 0.0pp Visitor market share of the NT (%) 71.8 71.7-0.1pp 69.3 64.1-5.2pp Year ending September 20 All purpose of visit 20 20 Holiday 20 20 Visitors ('000) 525 5-1.6% 228 288 27% Visitor nights ('000) 2,9 2,631-9.8% 1,440 1,333-7.5% Expenditure ($ million) 593 621 4.7% Average length of stay (nights) 5.6 5.1-0.5 6.3 4.6-1.7 Average spend per trip ($) 1,130 1,202 6.4% Visitor market share of Australia (%) 0.5 0.5 0.0pp 0.6 0.7 0.1pp Visitor market share of the NT (%) 33.8 33.4-0.4pp 39.2 43.9 4.7pp Year ending September 20 All purpose of visit 20 20 Holiday 20 20 Top End 1,115 1,108-0.6% 403 421 4.4% Intra-Territory 489 468-4.3% 9 5 3.5% Interstate 625 640 2.3% 225 236 5.2% Central Australia 525 5-1.6% 228 288 27% Intra-Territory 6 210 13% 45 77 71% Interstate 339 307-9.4% 3 212 16%
Summary of the Domestic Overnight Market for the Northern Territory Domestic visitation for all purposes to the NT overall decreased marginally, down -0.4% to 1.55 million visitors for the tember 20, with market share also going down slightly by -0.1 percentage points (pp) to 1.5%. Australians spent slightly fewer nights in the NT, down -0.3% to 9.6 million nights which equated to an average length of stay of 6.2 nights (stable +0.0 nights). Domestic visitors to the NT spent less (down -1.5% to $1.8 billion) causing the average spend per trip to go down (-1.1% to $1,4). More holiday visitors travelled to the NT for the tember 20 (+13% to 657,000 visitors), the highest level recorded by the National Visitor Survey since it commenced in 1998. This was offset by decreases in visitors travelling to visit friends or relatives (-% to 216,000 visitors) and for business (-4.9% to 626,000 visitors). Interstate and intra-territory travel to the NT for all purposes were mixed (up +0.6% and down -1.8%, respectively). An increase in intra-territory holiday visitors (up +12%) was not sufficient to offset the decrease in all-purpose intra-territory visitation to the NT. Interstate holiday visitation increased by 14% off-setting decreases in all-purpose visitation. Expenditure by intra-territory and interstate visitors to the NT was mixed with intra-territory expenditure falling -11% to $285 million, while interstate expenditure increased by +6.4% to $1.1 billion. Interstate visitation for all purposes was dominated by the 50+ years of age market making up 45% of interstate visitors for all purposes. However, there was a decrease for this market (-13% to 400,000 visitors aged 50+), offset by increased interstate visitors aged 30-49 years to the NT (up +30% to 354,000 visitors). More interstate visitors were self-driving to and around the NT (up +10% to 230,000 visitors) and less Intra-Territory visitors were using air transport (down -8.5% to 106,000 visitors). Overall the drive market (inter-state and intra-territory) made up 50% of all domestic overnight visitors to the NT in the tember 20. Key results from the NT holiday market: Domestic holiday visitation increased by +13% to 657,000 visitors for the tember 20. Market share also increased slightly by +0.1pp to 1.6%. Domestic holiday visitor nights went up by +4.7% to 3.9 million nights, while the average length of stay decreased to 5.9 nights (down -0.5 nights). Domestic holiday visitors to the NT spent more (up +32% to $806 million). The increase in domestic holiday spend is likely to, in part, be caused by an increase in holiday visitation in both the Top End and Central Australia regions (up +4.4% to 421,000 visitors and up +27% to 288,000 visitors, respectively). DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT NT VISITATION SUMMARY Year ending September 20 All purpose of visit 20 20 Holiday 20 20 Visitors ('000) 1,552 1,546-0.4% 582 657 13% Visitor nights ('000) 9,677 9,649-0.3% 3,729 3,906 4.7% Expenditure ($ million) 1,844 1,815-1.5% 612 806 32% Average length of stay (nights) 6.2 6.2 0.0 6.4 5.9-0.5 Average spend per trip ($) 1,8 1,4-1.1% 1,051 1,227 % Visitor market share (%) 1.6 1.5-0.1pp 1.5 1.6 0.1pp
DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITATION TRENDS TO THE NT DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITOR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY TREND TO THE NT DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITOR EXPENDITURE TRENDS TO THE NT NT HOLIDAY VISITATION FROM INTERSTATE AND INTRA-TERRITORY * in methodology from 2014 estimates are not directly comparable to previous years
INTRA-TERRITORY OVERNIGHT VISITORS TO THE NT In the tember 20, there were an estimated 656,000 intra-territory visitors in the NT, which was a -1.8% decrease when compared to the tember 20. Although there was growth in intra-territory visitors travelling for holiday, this was offset by declines in visitors travelling to visit friends and relatives and for business. This, in turn, was the main reason overall intra- Territory visitation decreased. Across Australia, there were more intrastate visitors in YE September 20, up +6.3% on the previous year as this market increased in all jurisdictions except the NT. Intra-territory visitors accounted for 42% of all domestic overnight visitors to the Territory in tember 20. Year ending (tember) Northern Territory Australia Visitors ('000) 668 656-1.8% 66,772 70,952 6.3% Visitor nights ('000) 1,687 2,131 26% 196,925 209,385 6.3% Expenditure ($ million) 322 285-11% 26,679 29,144 9.2% Average length of stay (nights) 2.5 3.2 0.7 2.9 3.0 0.0 Average spend per trip ($) 482 435-9.7% 400 411 2.8% Visitor market share (%) 1.0 0.9-0.1 INTERSTATE OVERNIGHT VISITORS TO THE NT Interstate visitation to the NT increased by +0.6% from the previous year to 890,000 visitors. This was due to the increases in holiday visitation being partially offset by decreases in all other purposes of visit. The interstate market represents 58% of all domestic visitors to the Territory. Over two-fifths (46%) of interstate visitors to the NT were holiday visitors. More interstate holiday visitors came to the NT in tember 20 (up +14% to 408,000) and stayed on average 8.2 nights, which equates to 3.4 million nights (up +2.6%). Year ending (tember) Northern Territory Australia Visitors ('000) 884 890 0.6% 31,159 33,658 8.0% Visitor nights ('000) 7,990 7,5-5.9% 150,349 158,845 5.7% Expenditure ($ million) 1,002 1,067 6.4% 24,530 27,106 11% Average length of stay (nights) 9.0 8.5-0.6 4.8 4.7-0.1 Average spend per trip ($) 1,134 1,199 5.8% 787 805 2.3% Visitor market share (%) 2.8 2.6-0.2 38% 13% 45% 46% 15% 37%
DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT HOLIDAY VISITATION BY QUARTER Visitor numbers ('000) Top End Central Australia Northern Territory DOMESTIC OVERNIGHT VISITOR DISPERSAL TO NT REGIONS March Qtr 70 43-38% 33 33 1.4% 102 77-25% June Qtr 128 160 25% 84 108 28% 196 241 23% September Qtr 146 153 4.5% 76 101 32% 205 231 13% December Qtr 59 65 9.5% 34 46 35% 78 108 38% NT Regions 36% 35% 35% 16% 16% 15% 12% 10% 12% 38% 37% 37% March quarter June quarter September quarter December quarter Outer ring - Northern Territory Middlering - Central Australia Inner ring - Top End % of NT visitors Greater Darwin 813 753-7.4% 49% Kakadu Arnhem 148 3 % 11% Katherine Daly 3 323 1.7% 21% Alice Springs - MacDonnell 337 3-6.0% 21% Barkly 125 112-10% 7.3% Lasseter 2 221 21% 14% This factsheet contains a summary of information relevant to the Northern Territory (NT) tourism industry including domestic overnight and day visitation results from Tourism Research Australia s National Visitor Survey, overseas and arrivals information from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and airport traffic data from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. This report has been prepared by the Strategic Research team in December 20. Estimates in this report are based on survey data and are therefore affected by sampling variation. The table below summarises the samples and Confidence Intervals (CI) for the NT for the YE September 20. Domestic Day Sample size Due to a change in methodology, domestic estimates from the December quarter 2014 and onwards are not directly comparable to domestic estimates from previous years. Tourism Research Australia has enhanced its procedures for coding purpose of visit for domestic overnight trips when respondents had more than 21 stopovers on a trip. These respondents were not asked the reasons for their stopovers, so TRA has assigned the main purpose of the trip as the stopover purpose. Consequently, historical estimates especially for the holiday category may be higher than those previously published. For more information on the National Visitor Survey methodology please visit Tourism Research Australia s website. CI Visitor numbers Domestic overnight CI Sample size Visitor numbers Visitor nights Intra-Territory 375 +/- % 571 +/- 13% +/- 22% Interstate - - 398 +/-11% +/- 12% Domestic total 378 +/- % 969 +/- 9% +/- 11% Disclaimer: The Department of Tourism and Culture has taken due care and skill in preparing this information, however does not warrant that it is correct or suitable for the purpose for which it is intended to be used. The Department disclaims all liability associated with the use of this information.
Departures Domestic Overnight Visitor Numbers and Spend by State AUSTRALIANS RESIDENTS DEPARTING OVERSEAS THROUGH THE DARWIN AIRPORT Excerpt from TRA s National Visitor Survey Summary 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 9,444 8,793 12,90 10,42 7,214 8,559 9,759 8,069 9,882 9,195 7,507 7,754 8,632 7,567 14,13 9,537 4,891 6,362 6,332 6,054 8,000 7,268 7,543 7,262 Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection TRAFFIC ON BOARD DOMESTIC AND REGIONAL AIRLINES Wetlands airboat safari tour Credit: Adrian Brown / Tourism NT Source: Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics