NSW: Backpacker visits on the increase
Youth hostels say backpackers are still flocking to Australia despite a heightenedthreat of international terrorism and the worldwide economic downturn.
Youth Hostels Australia says budget travellers spent a record 1.3 million overnightstays in Australia in 2001 despite a downturn in overall visitors to the country.
The five per cent annual growth in backpackers defied the across-the-board 2.6 percent downturn in tourism last year identified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
YHA National executive director KATE DAVIDSON says the figures show backpacking isa strong, reliable component of the tourism market.
AAP RTV jjs/aa/jh/wz
KEYWORD: BACKPACKERS (SYDNEY)
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