International tourists, particularly from Asia, have been a major driver of strong revenue growth in Australian luxury retailing over the past five years.

The latest Luxury Retailing in Australia report from business data company IbisWorld predicts that across the sector, which covers the sales of such goods as Swiss watches and designer handbags and clothing, revenue will reach AU$1.8 billion next year, an 11 per cent annual growth rate. For the ensuing five years, growth is anticipated to continue at the rate of 8.2 per cent a year to reach more than $2.7 billion.

IbisWorld anticipates that about 30 per cent of industry revenue can be attributed to inbound tourists, especially from increasingly sophisticated markets in Asia.

Its reports says these tourists have traditionally been drawn to heritage luxury labels and flagship stores, mainly because of the perceived prestige of brands like Chanel, Gucci and Louis Vuitton across Asia, particularly China.

A gradual depreciation of the Australian dollar since mid-2013 has helped drive growth in inbound tourism, boosting demand for luxury goods.