SA Government questions accuracy of tourism figures showing drop in international visitors

The accuracy of figures released by Tourism Research Australia, which show a drop in international visitors to South Australia, is being questioned by the South Australian Government.

According to the statistics, the number of overseas tourists visiting the state decreased from 388,000 in June 2014 to 385,000 in June 2015.

South Australia was the only state to not experience an increase, with numbers rising by up to 22 per cent in Tasmania, 11 per cent in Victoria and 8 per cent in Queensland.

South Australian Tourism Minister Leon Bignell said the figures do not coincide with the feedback he has received from local hotel operators.

"I've actually written to the Federal Government about these figures," he said. 

"Something went wrong with the way they did the stats a few months ago and then they had some of glitch.

"We're actually trying to get to the bottom of that because what these stats are saying in some markets doesn't actually marry up with the anecdotal evidence."

Mr Bignell said South Australia attracted a record number of visitors just nine months ago.

"My understanding is people sit in departure lounges with a clipboard and talk to people, so are they doing the same thing in Adelaide as they are doing in other states?"

Australian Hotels Association general manager Ian Horne said there had been a constant increase in demand for accommodation across South Australia for the past two years.

"That sort of figure isn't [reflecting] the experience of major accommodation and hotels," he said.

"I think you would have to say we have had some pretty significant events which have attracted international visitors, like the India Pakistan cricket match earlier in the year and the Fringe Festival."

Despite the decrease in numbers, Tourism Research Australia's report showed expenditure by overseas tourists in South Australia grew by 5 per cent to $774 million.

Nationally, expenditure increased by 10 per cent to $33.4 billion.

Mr Bignell said it was a record high for the state with particular growth in the number of tourists from Asia.

"The visitor economy and the number of nights spent in South Australia by tourists from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia have all increased," he said.

"They spend thousands more compared to tourists from western countries."

Thirty-two thousand tourists visited South Australia from China, an increase of 9.3 per cent on the previous year.

"The Chinese visitor market is absolutely critical to increasing employment in our regions," Mr Bignell said.

In the last State Budget, the Government invested $35 million to attract more tourists to South Australia through new events and marketing campaigns.

Source: ABC News, Rebecca Opie, 2^nd September 2015
Originally published as: SA Government questions accuracy of tourism figures showing drop in international visitors