Australia’s popularity as an international destination is on the rise, with top source markets reporting double digit increases in arrivals and further growth expected for 2013.

The Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) reported a 6.9 percent year-on-year increase in international tourism arrivals for the month of November 2012.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed arrivals for the year ending November 2012 were up 3.7 percent compared with the previous year.

Emerging markets in Asia are at the forefront of this growth spurt.

“Australia is proving itself to be an attractive destination for people from across Asia, with double digit increases in arrivals from eight Asian countries in November,” TTF chief executive John Lee said.

Increases in airline capacity in conjunction with staunch marketing campaigns in burgeoning marketplaces such as Malaysia, Thailand and China helped to push growth forward.

“Indications are that this growth will continue, with The Australian Open, attracting growing numbers of visitors from China, where tennis is becoming increasingly popular,” Mr Lee said.

Traditional markets such as the United States, Japan and Europe also witnessed rises and a return to growth.

“This shows that despite challenging economic conditions in Europe and the strong Australian dollar, Australia remains a desirable destination for travellers from around the world,” Mr Lee said.