Foreign tourists catch some rays at Bali's Kuta Beach. (Photo: J.P. Christo, JG)

Indonesia 3rd Most Popular Destination for Holidaying Aussies in 2009

Indonesia was the third most popular destination for holidaying Australians during 2009, according to newly released information from the country’s statistical agency.

The number of Australians traveling abroad last year skyrocketed, with 6.3 million leaving for short-term breaks, with New Zealand, the USA and Indonesia making up the top three destinations, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed.

Some 548,000 Australians left for Indonesia on a short-term departure during 2009, according to the figures.

However, Australia continued to be a strong destination for international visitors, seeing only a decline of 1,700 visitors on 2008 numbers, despite concerns that the global financial crisis would dent the country’s tourism industry. Some 5.6 million international visitors arrived in Australia during 2009 for short-term stays.

For only the second time in more than 20 years, Australian travelers who left the country outnumbered international tourists who arrived, the statistics showed.

The total number of arrivals and departures for Australia during 2009 reached a record 24.7 million, outnumbering the country’s modest population of just over 22.1 million.

JG

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