In general, visitor numbers from the UK and the US rose significantly, while those from Japan experienced a modest decrease. Backpacking grew more popular for lodging by the period’s end, whereas hotel occupancy declined gradually following an early surge.
The number of British visitors to Australia rose from roughly 800,000 in 1995 to about 1. 5 million in 2005, representing a more than twofold increase. Likewise, US visitor numbers climbed consistently from roughly 600,000 to equal Britain’s total by the period’s end. Conversely, the number of Japanese tourists fell marginally from approximately 1. 3 million to roughly 1. 1 million during that decade.
Both hotel and backpacker accommodations saw a steep increase from 1995 to 2000, with each category gaining approximately 800,000 visitors. Subsequently, the number of backpackers rose steadily, surpassing hotel guests by 2005. Conversely, hotel occupancy declined significantly in the latter years, causing both accommodation types to converge at similar levels.
