U.S. Secure as Australia’s Favorite Long-Haul Market: The latest data furnished by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the U.S. remains the favorite long-haul destination for Australian travelers. A decade ago, the UK was the favored English-speaking destination of choice for long-haul Aussie travelers. The U.S. became the new number one within a couple of years and has since maintained that position. One might suggest that the stronger Australian dollar had something to do with the change—it increased in value from mid-June 2004 to mid-June 2014 by 35 percent—but the value of the Aussie dollar increased even more during the same period, 45 percent, vs. the British pound sterling.
It is more likely that some Australians have foregone travel to the UK for two reasons: the doubling of the latter’s Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is assessed on every traveler departing by air from the UK. The APD for the trip from the UK to Australia is the highest—£92 ($150+) per person; and the targeting of Australia as a key market in the promotional campaigns of Brand USA.
The following table shows the top ten destination countries for short-term† (less than a year) resident departures in 2003-04 compared with 2013-14. New Zealand remained the most popular destination in 2013-14, with Australians making 1.2 million journeys there. Of the top ten destination countries in the year ending June 2014, short-term resident departures to India recorded the strongest growth over the ten year period, with a percentage change of 321.3 percent. It was followed by Indonesia (266.1 percent), and Malaysia (247.9 percent).
Short Term Residential Departures
2003-2004*
| Destination Countries | Departures (000s) |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 737.9 |
| UK** | 356.6 |
| USA | 334.8 |
| Indonesia | 276.7 |
| Thailand | 176.7 |
| Fiji | 160.5 |
| China | 153.8 |
| Singapore | 147.6 |
| Hong Kong | 141.3 |
| Malaysia | 131.8 |
| TOTAL | 3 961.3 |
* For the 12-month period ending with June 2004
** Includes Isle of Man and Channel Islands
SOURCE: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Short Term Residential Departures
2013-2014*
| Destination Country | Departures (000s) | Percent Change 03/04 to 13/14 |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1,194.40 | 61.90% |
| Indonesia | 1,012.80 | 266.10% |
| USA | 934.6 | 179.10% |
| Thailand | 614.7 | 247.90% |
| UK** | 540.7 | 51.60% |
| China | 402.1 | 161.40% |
| Singapore | 374.8 | 153.90% |
| Fiji | 333.9 | 108.10% |
| Malaysia | 300.5 | 128.00% |
| India | 255.9 | 321.30% |
| Total | 8, 940.0 | 125.70% |
* For the 12-month period ending with June 2004
** Includes Isle of Man and Channel Islands
SOURCE: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Distances between Sydney and favorite long-haul destination gateways: Sydney to London—10,552.7 miles; Sydney to Los Angeles—7,497.5 miles; Sydney to Beijing—5,556.3 miles; Sydney to Bangkok— 4,677 miles; Sydney to Jakarta—3,412.6 miles; Sydney to Auckland—1,339 miles.
