Despite the strong Australian Dollar and heavy competition from other destinations, Australia has been named the number one destination for backpackers.
According to a survey by the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), the results of which were announced at the ATEC backpacker and Youth Industry Conference in Airlie Beach last week, Down Under came out on top for adventurous holidaymakers.
The survey interviewed almost a thousand backpackers on their travel preferences. This work was undertaken by ATEC in association with Tourism Australia and Global Gossip, an internet café network. ATEC found Australia at the top of the ‘bucket list’ for tourists and backpackers from around the world.
“Australia remains a highly desirable place for the backpacker market – it’s a dream destination for those looking for excitement and adventure,” said ATEC’s managing director Felicia Mariani.
“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.”
However, Mariani admitted Australia – whose popular destinations include Sydney and Melbourne – has a lot to do to meet visitor expectations.
“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.”
