Visitor arrival figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the UK is Australia’s second biggest source of international tourism.

With 689,200 UK tourists heading to Australia in the year ending August 2004 – a six per cent increase on 2003 – only neighbouring New Zealand provides more tourists.

Ireland is also a strong market for the Aussies, with an 18 per cent increase in Irish visitors to Australia in 2004 – a total of 55,400 tourists over the past year – meaning Ireland is now the country’s third largest source market from Europe, after the UK and Germany.

Tourism Australia (Europe) general manager Judy Watkins, said: “Australia has always been popular with British and Irish holidaymakers as there are strong historic links, a significant Visiting Friends and Relatives market and long-standing sporting ties.

“We are delighted to see that increasing numbers of people from these markets are also choosing Australia for no other reason that that it is a fantastic holiday destination.”