The Australian national economy could suffer from a string of racially motivated attacks perpetrated on members of the Indian student community.

New forecasting data released by the Government reveals that as much as $78 million could be the cost of the violence as other Indian students who aware of the assaults will avoid Australia to pursue their studies.

On Wednesday, the Tourism Forecasting Committee released its most recent forecasts for travel demand in 2010 in the country, suggesting that a growth of three percent for the Australian economy, equaling $92 billion, after it had reported a 3.5 percent slide in 2009.

International tourist numbers to Australia are expected to increase by 4.3 percent resulting from stronger confidence in the global economy and after a disappoint year in 2009, the country’s domestic tourism sector is believed to be experiencing an improving trend.

But Tourism Forecasting Committee has warned that despite the general good news, Australia is set to see a staggering 21 percent drop in student numbers arriving from India.

The huge decrease is being pinned on the string of racially motivated violent attacks in the middle on 2009 on Indian students which seriously undermined Australia’s capacity to portray the image of a student destination which behaves responsibly and coherently as an evolved and civilized nation.

The Government body has predicted that, in 2010, 4,000 fewer Indian students are scheduled to travel to Australia, after a fantastic increase of 35 percent in 2009 over the previous year.

The Tourism Forecasting Committee revealed through a statement that, if these now vacant enrolments fail to be taken by other international students, the resulting loss to Australia in economic value may reach $78 million in 2010.

The organization has also revealed that biggest tourist arrival increases are predicted to come from China and the US in 2010.