Tourism – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The Good: A Tourism Industry Perspective
In 2024, international tourism experienced a remarkable recovery, reaching 99% of pre-pandemic levels. Many destinations even surpassed their 2019 visitor numbers. Globally, approximately 1.4 billion international tourists (overnight visitors) were recorded in 2024, marking an 11% increase from 2023.
Tourism exports, the spending by international visitors on Australian goods and services, reached $38.3 billion in 2023–24. This figure was 48% higher than the previous year and even exceeded pre-pandemic levels. On the other hand, tourism imports—spending by Australians traveling overseas—totalled $78.4 billion in the same period, 41% higher than in 2022–23.
The Bad: A United Nations & EU Perspective
While the industry’s resurgence is promising, several challenges loom over international tourism in 2025. A UN Tourism survey highlights the following concerns:
1. Higher Transport and Accommodation Costs (58%): Inflation, rising fuel prices, and supply chain issues are driving costs up, potentially deterring travellers.
2. Other Economic Factors (51%): Economic instability, fluctuating exchange rates, and the rising cost of living are significant hurdles.
3. Geopolitical Risks (31%): Political tensions and conflicts in key regions pose threats to tourism.
4. Extreme Weather Events (28%): Climate-related events like hurricanes and wildfires continue to impact destinations and infrastructure.
5. Staff Shortages (22%): Workforce shortages in hospitality and aviation remain a challenge post-COVID-19.
6. Low Consumer Confidence (20%): Global uncertainties make travellers hesitant to commit to international trips.
7. Travel Requirements (19%): Complex visa processes and regulatory barriers act as deterrents.
8. Visitor Congestion in Destinations (17%): Overcrowding in popular locations strains infrastructure and diminishes the tourist experience.
9. Airport Congestion, Delays, and Cancellations (12%): Operational inefficiencies in air travel add to travellers’ frustrations.
The EU in an October 2018 report, defined over tourism as “the situation in which the impact of tourism, at certain times and in certain locations, exceeds physical, ecological, social, economic, psychological, and/or political capacity thresholds.”
The Ugly: A Local Community Perspective
One pressing concern is the impact of "visitor congestion in destinations", which has garnered significant media attention.
Some International Examples:
Some Australian Examples:
1. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland: Conservation groups and Indigenous communities have advocated for stricter controls to protect the reef from climate change and coral bleaching.
2. Uluru, Northern Territory: The Anangu people—traditional custodians of Uluru—successfully opposed climbing the rock, emphasizing its sacred significance.
3. Bondi Beach, New South Wales: Residents express frustration over congestion, noise, and littering during peak times and major events.
4. Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House, New South Wales: Overcrowding during major events, like New Year’s Eve, leads to traffic congestion and noise complaints from locals.
Councillors in New South Wales Blue Mountains say, the onslaught of coaches arriving each day has badly impacted the "long standing traffic issue" in the region, with figures revealing day trips to the mountains having increased by nearly 30 per cent from 2022 to 2023, and those numbers are still set to rise.
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