Australia is a land of diversity and natural beauty that attracts millions of tourists from all over the world every year. It’s no surprise then that tourism is a significant contributor to the Australian economy, providing numerous jobs across various sectors. In this article, we will explore how many jobs tourism provides in Australia and its impact on the country’s economy.
Overview of Tourism in Australia
Tourism is one of Australia’s biggest industries, generating billions of dollars in revenue each year. According to Tourism Research Australia, in 2019, there were 9.4 million international visitors and 113 million domestic overnight trips taken in Australia. These visitors spent a total of $60.8 billion on their trips, contributing significantly to the country’s GDP.
Tourism Industry Sectors
The tourism industry comprises various sectors that provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for Australians. The primary sectors include:
Accommodation
The accommodation sector includes hotels, motels, resorts, serviced apartments, and other forms of accommodation. This sector employs a vast number of people across various job roles such as front desk staff, housekeeping, maintenance staff, food and beverage personnel.
Food and Beverage
The food and beverage sector includes restaurants, cafes, bars, fast-food chains, catering services among others. It employs people across various job roles such as chefs, cooks, wait staff, bartenders.
Retail
The retail sector includes shops selling souvenirs and other merchandise Targeted towards tourists. This sector provides employment opportunities for sales assistants and other support staff.
Transportation
The transportation sector comprises airlines, car rentals services among others that provide transportation services to tourists. This sector employs people across various job roles such as pilots or flight attendants or drivers.
Job Opportunities in Tourism
Tourism provides direct and indirect employment opportunities for Australians. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2018-19, there were approximately 646,000 people employed in the tourism industry across various sectors.
Direct Employment Opportunities
Direct employment opportunities refer to jobs that are directly related to the tourism industry. The accommodation and food services sector is the most significant employer in the tourism industry, providing employment opportunities for approximately 440,000 people.
Indirect Employment Opportunities
Indirect employment opportunities refer to jobs that are indirectly related to the tourism industry. For instance, the retail sector employs people who work in souvenir shops that cater primarily to tourists.
Conclusion
Tourism is a crucial contributor to Australia’s economy and provides numerous job opportunities across various sectors. With its natural beauty, diverse culture and rich history, Australia will continue to attract tourists from all over the world. The government’s continued investment in this industry will help create more job opportunities and boost economic growth for years to come.
- Key Takeaways:
- Tourism is one of Australia’s biggest industries.
- The accommodation and food services sector is the most significant employer in the tourism industry.
- The retail sector provides indirect employment opportunities for people working in souvenir shops catering primarily to tourists.
- The government’s investment in this industry will help create more job opportunities and boost economic growth.