Tourism Australia is attributing the 4.5 per cent increase in the overall number of visitors arriving from the UK for the year ending November 2013 to a range of factors including the British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia and the Commonwealth Bank Ashes Series.

Global campaigns such as ‘The Best Jobs in the World’ to promote Australia to travellers aged 18-30 have also increased visitation. 

The UK remains Australia’s most valuable international leisure market in terms of total spend, with UK leisure visitors’ annual total spend reaching the AUD$2.4 billion mark contributing 15 per cent of the total spend for all inbound leisure visitors to Australia.

The UK is also Australia’s most valuable leisure market in terms of visitor nights and dispersed nights.

Denise von Wald, regional general manager UK/Northern Europe, Tourism Australia explained: “Australia remains one of the number one destinations that British holidaymakers most want to visit, but our challenge is to convert desire into actual intention to travel.

“Our ‘There’s Nothing Like Australia’ campaign resonates well in the UK market and by working with airlines, distribution and media partners we are moving the dial, taking advantage of the improving economic climate and increasing consumer confidence over here.

“Globally Tourism Australia is working towards increasing the overall expenditure of visitors in line with our 2020 Strategy. In the UK we focus on attracting affluent long haul travellers aged over 50 and Working Holiday Makers aged 18-30.

“These two segments provide us with the best opportunity to increase overall tourism expenditure out of this market.”