8 February 2022

A record-breaking number of Australian travellers visited New Caledonia in December 2022

As Australia's closest neighbour and with its unique mix of French influence and South Pacific island vibes, New Caledonia is the ultimate destination for an overseas holiday. Now it has been confirmed that Aussies think so too, as the destination welcomed a record high of Australian travellers in December, beating its pre-pandemic numbers.

During the first month of summer and the Christmas holiday period, 4,144 visitors made their way from Australia to New Caledonia while the previous record high was 2,898 visitors in December 2019. That is an approximate 43% increase in monthly travellers from the busiest month before the pandemic. Australian travellers stayed on average 10.8 days in the destination during their trip.

As soon as the last entry restrictions were removed in August, Australian travellers jumped on the opportunity to book a trip to the destination, something Rebecca Marchal, Account Director for New Caledonia Tourisme Australia could not be more excited about.

“It's clear that Australians have been eager to book a trip to our beautiful destination once we were finally able to travel again and with its close proximity to Australia, it's an easy and quick trip to plan. Our efforts in being able to welcome people back to the destination are not just thanks to our industry partners but also to the incredible wholesalers and travel agents who continue to educate themselves through our training program and sell the destination to their clients. We wouldn't be able to achieve this without them.” said Marchal about the results.

Look no further than New Caledonia for a destination that combines natural beauty, friendly locals and delicious cuisine that reflects the melting pot of culture that is the South Pacific. Whether it is for a dose of French influence without the long-haul flight or to simply find a spot of relaxation under the palm trees next to a white-sand beach, a visit to Australia's closest neighbour fits the bill.

For more information on the destination, please visit:

https://www.newcaledonia.travel/au

NCT AU PRESS CONTACT:

Catherine Fornell Hallberg – Evil Twin PR

catherine@eviltwinpr.com.au | 0481 983 202

About New Caledonia Tourism

New Caledonia Tourism (NCT), the New Caledonia tourist promotion agency, is an economic interest group (EIG) that serves as an interface between its institutional and professional partners in the sector to promote the destination on the international stage under the brand "New Caledonia Pacific Heart". First founded in 2001 and funded by the New Caledonian Government and by local professional members' contributions, the organisation is based in Nouméa but also has representation in Australia, Japan, Mainland France and New Zealand.