Tourism industry

Learn how we strengthen the Australian tourism industry and boost the visitor economy.

Austrade, through the Office of Tourism and the Visitor Economy, leads work to support the sustainable growth and prosperity of Australia’s tourism industry and visitor economy.

We do this by:

  • leading development of tourism policy
  • overseeing THRIVE 2030, the national visitor economy strategy
  • managing grant programs
  • providing official tourism statistics and research.

We work closely with Tourism Australia, the national marketing organisation responsible for promoting Australia as a leisure and business travel destination. Under the Tourism Australia Act 2004, Tourism Australia’s objects are to:

  • Influence people to travel to Australia, including for events
  • Influence people travelling to Australia to also travel throughout Australia
  • Help foster a sustainable tourism industry in Australia
  • Help increase the economic benefits to Australia from tourism.

Austrade and Tourism Australia are part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Both organisations report to the Minister for Trade and Tourism.

About tourism and the visitor economy

Tourism and the visitor economy covers:

  • domestic and international tourism 
  • international student, business and leisure travellers 
  • associated industries such as tourism services and activities, events, accommodation, hospitality and transport.

It’s never been easier or safer to visit, work or learn in Australia.

And it’s never been more important to support our visitor economy. 

Business travellers and international students are essential to Australia’s prosperity.

Austrade is leading the return of our visitor economy spend to pre-pandemic levels, targeting $230 billion in visitor spending by 2030. 

Go further, faster with Austrade. Austrade.gov.au.

Strategy for the visitor economy - THRIVE 2030

We manage the national strategy for the visitor economy, THRIVE 2030.

THRIVE 2030 is an industry-led, government-enabled strategy. It has an action plan to support sustainable growth of the visitor economy.

Grants and support

To help grow businesses in the visitor economy, we administer a range of export and tourism grants.

We support First Nations businesses in global trade and investment, and in tourism. Find out how we support First Nations businesses.

The China Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme allows Chinese tourists to travel to Australia in guided groups. We manage the scheme in Australia with the Department of Home Affairs and Tourism Australia.

Tourism data and research

We provide statistics and research to assist the government, the visitor economy and Australian businesses. Find out more at Tourism Research Australia.

Partners

We work with partners and stakeholders, including:

  • Tourism Australia, the Australian Government agency responsible for tourism marketing. 
  • state and territory tourism organisations that support the development and marketing of tourism destinations and experiences within their state or territory
  • regional tourism organisations, which coordinate, market, and develop tourism within specific geographical areas, bridging local operators with state-level strategy
  • industry bodies.

Tourism ministers' meetings

Australian Government and state and territory government tourism ministers regularly meet to work together on:

  • progressing the national long-term tourism strategy
  • addressing matters of relevance to the visitor economy.

The ministers are supported by the Australian Standing Committee on Tourism (ASCOT). Austrade leads ASCOT.

Read about the latest Tourism Ministers' meeting.

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Visitor Economy News

Contact us

Email visitoreconomy@austrade.gov.au

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