Australia posts strong growth of business and conference arrivals from HK, Germany and the US

By Laura Lee

Australia’s business and conference arrivals continue to show strong growth trends with 809,500 business arrivals registered for the year ended 30 September 2010, up 11% from the previous corresponding year.

Of this, 170,600 were convention or conference arrivals, which represented an 18% increase year-on-year (y-o-y). For the three months ended 30 September 2010, there were 52,600 convention or conference arrivals, up 16% y-o-y. For September alone, 17,200 convention or conference arrivals were registered, which represented an increase of 18% y-o-y.

Strong growth from its convention or conference arrivals was registered from Hong Kong, up 60% to 3,639; Germany (up 50% to 2,988); the United States (up 40% to 22,056) and the Philippines (up 33% to 3,389) although they are not in the top 10 placings.

South Korea and Singapore, which both posted 32% growth each to register 6,881 and 6,585 convention or conference arrivals, came within the top five and sixth placing respectively.

Malaysia, whose contribution in terms of convention or conference arrivals amounted to 3,260 for the year ended 30 September 2010, up 6% from a year ago. Malaysia was ranked number 14.

In terms of total business arrivals, Malaysia registered 19,723 for the first nine months of 2010, up 12% from the previous corresponding period. Here, Malaysia made it to the 10th placing.

Total arrivals to Australia from January to September rose 6% to 5.8 million. Malaysia, which contributed 228,252 arrivals during this period, was ranked 8th.

The top spot went to New Zealand (NZ) to with 1,142,748 arrivals. NZ also won the top ranking in terms of total business arrivals with 201,040 as well as convention or convention arrivals (42,436).