Australia suffers worst overseas arrivals numbers due to coronavirus

Australia has suffered the biggest drop in overseas arrivals ever recorded, which is contributing to a $2 billion-a-month problem.

Australia’s overseas visitor numbers have seen an unprecedented drop due to restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows overseas arrivals to Australia slumped 60 per cent in March – the largest ever drop in overseas travel the country has seen.

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There were 331,900 short-term visitors to Australia in March 2020, down from 836,300 visitors a year earlier. The numbers capture visitors from all over the world.

More specifically, visitor numbers from China fell 78 per cent to 27,900, Japan fell 75 per cent to 13,300 and the United States fell 61.5 per cent to 34,300.

The number of overseas arrivals on short-term trips to Australia has plummeted due to coronavirus. Picture: ABS

Visitors from New Zealand, which is Australia’s largest source of overseas arrivals, fell 56 per cent to 48,200.

The March numbers capture dramatic changes caused by Australia’s ban on foreign nationals entering the country on February 1.

Australia originally banned entry from visitors from coronavirus hot spots before restricting access to all non-Australian citizens and residents as the pandemic spread.

The number of residents returning on short-term trips has also sharply fallen. Picture: ABS

Coronavirus is expected to deal a heavy blow to Australia’s tourism industry, which has already suffered due to the devastating summer bushfires.

Estimates suggest coronavirus lockdowns are costing the sector as much as $2 billion a month, AAP reports.

All Australian states and territories have recorded large falls in international visitors during March.

Every Australian state and territory has seen visitor numbers tumble.

The Northern Territory suffered the biggest blow with a drop of 66 per cent.

NSW followed with a 64 per cent drop, while Queensland visitor numbers declined 63 per cent and Victoria by 58 per cent.

There was also a record fall in the number of Australian residents returning from short-term trips overseas, down 29 per cent to 538,400.

– with AAP