Birdwatching is an important tourist industry in Australia – both for Australians and also for international tourists.
In the year to June 2024 international tourists spent $2.6 billion on travel that involved birdwatching according to Tourism Research Australia. Over the same period domestic overnight tourists spent $636 million which was a 53 per cent increase from 2021.
These figures include money spent on transport, accommodation, food and activities by birdwatchers, many of whom chase rare species long distances across the country.
Australia is considered the “holy grail” of birding.” according to Murdoch University conservation scientist Dr Rochelle Steven. As the home to the second highest number of endemic bird species in the world, it attracts birdwatchers from across the globe.
“For someone from the other side of the world, seeing a common rainbow lorikeet is a huge thrill,” she said.
She pointed out that birdwatching as a tourist attraction remains largely overlooked in Australia in comparison to countries such as the UK where they understand the economic value of birdwatching.
Australian companies conducting birdwatching tours are well aware that they are part of a growth industry. David Mead, owner of Great Northern Birdwatching Tours, said his group tours across Cape York, The Gulf of Carpentaria, western Queensland, the Simpson Desert and parts of SA and WA are often booked out a year in advance.
“Far North Queensland is huge for birding – about half of Australia’s bird species can be found here,” he said.
As well as being a major drawcard for tourists, birdwatching is helping support conservation efforts.
Birdlife Australia CEO Kate Millar said, “Almost one in six Australian birds are threatened with extinction, so recognising the economic value of bird tourism could drive more investment in conservation.”
“If people don’t know or care about our birds, then it’s hard to get the resources to protect them in the future.”
If you want to find out about our local birds, obtain a copy of the Clarence Valley Birdos’ comprehensive “Bird Routes” brochure which is available online and in some tourism outlets.
- Leonie Blain
Originally published under the title "Birdwatching and Tourism" in the Voices for the Earth column in The Clarence Valley Independent ,26 February, 2025.
