New research released by the University of Canberra shows that Australian teachers see Canberra as a leading school excursion destination, with nearly 165,000 interstate students visiting the capital last year.
The Size and Effect of school excursions to the National Capital conducted by UC’s Naomi Dale, showed there had been an overall increase in the number of student visitors to Canberra since the data collection began in 1997.
“The majority of Canberra’s interstate visitors come from NSW (50.1 per cent), followed by Victoria (18.5 per cent) and then South Australia (12.6 per cent),” Dr Dale said.
“We are finding quite high regional and rural numbers as well, with 30 per cent of those visitors from these areas.”
She said the research involved data collection from Canberra’s national institutions and attractions, as well as from conversations with teachers and bus drivers.
“Teachers were highlighting positive links to the curriculum in the areas of civics and citizenship, Australian history and science and technology,” Dr Dale said.
“They were also including art and culture, Indigenous culture and history, and health and sport as strengths for Canberra.”
She said the research findings represented good news for Canberra’s economy.
“I think people initially think with children visiting, they are bringing $10 pocket money and that’s the only impact; but financially we are finding the contribution to gross state product is really high because of the accommodation and the programs and obviously the transport,” Dr Dale said.
