Australia sees record number of tourists in 2018, but growth slows to six year low

There were a record numbers of tourists visiting Australia last year, according to CommSec.

However, over the year to December, Australia saw its slowest growth rate in tourist arrivals since February 2012.

Tourist arrivals rose by 0.6 percent to 782,700 in December, a 4.9 percent increase over the year.

Tourist departures also rose in December, by 1.2 percent, to be 8 percent up over the year, the strongest annual growth rate in 19 months.

There were more tourists coming to Australia from Greater China, which incorporates China and Hong Kong (mainland China 122,600; Hong Kong 25,900), than New Zealand (115,600).

The increase made China the largest source of tourists to Australia. The 1,444,900 tourist count was up 4.4 percent over the year.

There was also a record number of Indian tourists to Australia, 358,200, up 18.1 percent.

New Zealand tourists also saw a rise, to $1,384,900, an increase of two percent.

The month of December saw record tourist inflows from Canada.

Heading the other way, there were a record number of Aussies traveling to Samoa, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Indonesia.

There were record figures in the number of permanent and long-term arrivals in Australia in December. Arrivals over the year reached a record high 832,560, a 7.1 percent increase, thanks to a further 62,890 entrants in December.