SEPTEMBER was the biggest month on record for Australians travelling to the US and Donald Trump’s election is not likely to slow the stampede, at least not immediately.
New Australian Bureau of Statistics data show 117,000 Aussies made the trip across the Pacific, taking advantage of historically cheap airfares.
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Aussie travellers are heading to the US in record numbers — will that end when Trump moves into the White House? Picture: iStockSource:Supplied
The figure was up 5.5 per cent on the same time last year and Australian Federation of Travel Agents’ CEO Jayson Westbury said the growth was likely to continue or even accelerate under a Trump-led United States.
“If anything Trump has always been very supportive of the tourism industry, he’s been very public about that,” said Mr Westbury.
“We may see some ramping up of their international marketing efforts. He sees international tourism as the right sort of thing to be doing.”
Tourism lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney David Beirman said Mr Trump was first and foremost a businessman and owner of hotels, resorts and golf courses, so he would know the value of the tourism dollar.
Donald Trump knows the value of tourism dollars. Picture: News Corp AustraliaSource:News Limited
But concerns remained about the visa waiver program Mr Trump suggested should “be stopped” during the election campaign.
Under the program more than 30 countries including Australia, can apply for a holiday visa online without a face-to-face interview.
“People are coming into our country, we have no idea who they are,” he said in March, following the terrorist attack in Belgium.
Dr Beirman said he did not believe the visa waiver program would be “high on Trump’s agenda in terms of things he’d like to scrap”.
“It’s pitched at those countries deemed safe and friendly towards the US,” said Dr Beirman.
“It is going to be very interesting days ahead to see the distinction between what he’s promised and what actually gets delivered.”
Tourists enjoy the sunset over Monument Valley, Arizona. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied
As Australians poured into the US, the love was returned by Americans flocking down under in huge numbers.
In the year to September, US visitors increased almost 18 per cent to 690,400.
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond suggested a further surge was likely on the back of Mr Trump’s victory.
“For all those Americans who are shell-shocked at the idea of President Trump, the best advice is to come to Australia and enjoy our fabulous summer,” said Ms Osmond.
Budget carrier AirAsia X even attempted to use the win to its advantage, launching a campaign titled “Make Holidays Great Again”, inviting travellers to change their flights from the US to Asia from January 20, 2017 — Mr Trump’s inauguration day.