NSW Popular Destination for Middel Eastern Tourists

There has been  an almost 10 per cent increase in the number of people visiting NSW from the Middle East.

The latest International Visitor Survey shows that for the year to June 2013 there were 46,760 visitors who arrived in NSW from the Middle East.

That compares with the 42,680 people who arrived in NSW in the year earlier, which is a 9.6 per cent increase within just 12 months. 

There is also a spike in the number of people arriving from the United Arab Emirates, with UAE arrivals in the year to June 2013 jumping more than 15 per cent. NSW is home to a large Arabic community that makes a major contribution to the multicultural fabric of the State.

“These are impressive results that show more Middle Easterners are choosing to come to NSW to visit their families and tourist destinations, and to conduct business,  NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said.

“There’s also been a huge 60 per cent increase in the number of visitor nights spent in NSW, indicating more Middle Eastern people are staying longer once arriving in the State.

“The NSW Government is committed to promoting the State to the world as a multicultural and tolerant society and these are encouraging figures that indicate our measures are working.

“Tourism is the central plank in the State’s economy and these results support the NSW Government’s pledge to maintain the State as Australia’s leading visitor destination,” Mr O’Farrell said.