Permanent arrivals have fallen to their lowest since May, 1984, according to monthly figures issued yesterday.
In January there were 5460 permanent arrivals, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures issued yesterday. In January 1992 it was 8410. The January, 1993, figure was the lowest since the last recession.
However, the figures showed also a record number of overseas movements at 1,002,500. It was up 13 per cent more than January, 1992.
Permanent arrivals were up 62 per cent from the former Yugoslav countries. Other areas showed declines.
Japan provided the highest number of short-term visitors (242,800 and 24 per cent of the total). New Zealand and the UK had 11 per cent each and the US 8 per cent. There were significant increases in visitors from Taiwan, Hong King and Singapore.
The bureau warned that the figures were taken from sampling and were therefore subject to sampling errors.
The trend estimates for short-term visitor arrivals (tourist and business) is up, whereas it is down for visitor departures (Australians going on holidays and business).
The trend for short-term arrivals (less than a year) is towards stays of under two-weeks. Holiday (65 per cent), visit relatives (15 per cent) and business (6 per cent) were the main reason for coming. Business trips were up 12 per cent on January last year.