Australia has defied predictions by seeing only a slight reduction in UK arrivals this year.
Tourism Australia UK distribution development manager Ben Janeczko said: “The official forecast predicted we would be 9.2% down, but we’re only down 3% this year to date, and I’d be surprised if that changed.
“We’ve been committed – and have kept spending our marketing dollars in partnership with tour operators and airlines.”
Airlift to Australia from the UK has increased this year, with new flights and routes from carriers such as Qantas and Emirates.
Emirates’ routes from regional airports have seen strong uptake, with the Newcastle departure its best-ever launch route. On this route, 40% of passengers fly on from Dubai to Australia.
As a result of this increase in flight numbers, prices are expected to stay low for 2010.
Tourism Australia opened registration for its annual training event Corroboree last week.
Already, 300 agents have fully registered and 1,100 have responded wanting to attend the event, set to run in Melbourne in May next year.
Tourism Australia has revealed that Corroboree 2011 will be held in Darwin.