New South Wales (NSW) has emerged as Australia’s leading destination for international and domestic visitors, setting unprecedented records in visitor numbers, nights, and expenditure, according to the latest International Visitor Survey by Tourism Research Australia (TRA). The state has not only recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but has also surpassed pre-pandemic levels in several key metrics.
Record International Visitor Numbers
In the year ending March 2024, NSW welcomed a staggering 3.7 million international visitors. These visitors collectively spent 95.2 million nights and contributed $11.8 billion to the state’s economy. This significant influx of international tourists has positioned NSW as the top destination in Australia for visitor numbers, nights, and expenditures.
Sydney, the capital city of NSW, played a pivotal role in this success, attracting 3.4 million international visitors. These visitors stayed 79.9 million nights and spent approximately $10.7 billion. This makes Sydney the leading Australian city for international visitors, accounting for 53% of all international visitors to Australian capital cities, 39% of nights, and 42% of expenditure.
Regional NSW Gains Momentum
Regional NSW also saw impressive figures, with 694,400 international visitors spending 15.3 million nights and $1.1 billion. This highlights the growing appeal of regional destinations within the state, complementing Sydney’s strong performance.
Domestic Tourism Surges to New Heights
NSW’s domestic tourism sector has also seen unprecedented growth. The state attracted 100.3 million domestic visitors who stayed 117.8 million nights. This remarkable achievement resulted in a record domestic expenditure of $41 billion for NSW and $15.7 billion for Sydney.
Regional NSW has become the favourite regional destination for domestic travellers, welcoming 66 million visitors. It also earned the title of Australia’s domestic day trip capital, recording 38.9 million domestic day trips.
High Growth in Domestic Expenditure
A significant increase in expenditure further highlights the domestic tourism boom. Sydney saw domestic overnight business visitor expenditure rise by 16.2% to $0.8 billion. Additionally, domestic visitor numbers to regional NSW were the second highest on record at 27.1 million, with domestic overnight visitor growth up by 3.3% yearly.
Key Market Insights
The survey revealed fascinating insights into the origins of international visitors. The most significant percentages of arrivals came from the United States, New Zealand, and China. Notably, the fastest-growing international source markets for visitors to Sydney were South Korea (up 19.4%), India (up 12.4%), and Indonesia (up 4.9%).
In regional NSW, the United Kingdom was the most significant source market, accounting for 18% of international visitors. The fastest-growing markets included India (up 15.8%), the Netherlands (up 4.1%), and Indonesia (up a remarkable 116.5%).
Comments from Destination NSW
Ian Maltman, Acting CEO of Destination NSW, expressed his delight at these achievements. “These results confirm that the NSW visitor economy is celebrating a strong and fast recovery,” he stated. “NSW is Australia’s top destination for international visitors, while domestic visitor expenditure has hit a record high of $41 billion for NSW and $15.7 billion for Sydney.”
Maltman highlighted the strategic efforts behind this success, including investments in the capability-building NSW First industry program, targeted marketing initiatives, and a vibrant events calendar that continues to attract visitors from around the globe.
Fast Facts: International Visitors
- NSW received 53% more visitors, 56% more visitor nights, and 52% more expenditure than Victoria.
- International visitor expenditure in NSW was 5% higher than in 2019.
- Visitor nights in NSW they reached 95.2 million, just 2% lower than in 2019.
- The average expenditure per night in NSW increased from $115 in 2019 to $124 in 2024.
Fast Facts: Domestic Visitors
- Domestic visitor nights and expenditure in Sydney increased to 31.8 million (up 8.8%) and $15.7 billion (up 10.6%), respectively, compared to the previous year.
- Sydney day trip visitor expenditure rose by $471 million to $4 billion, the highest on record.
- Domestic overnight business visitor expenditure was up by 16.2%.
Conclusion
NSW’s exceptional international and domestic tourism performance showcases its resilience and strategic prowess in the post-pandemic era. With record-breaking numbers and significant economic contributions, NSW stands as a beacon of success in Australia’s tourism industry, setting the stage for continued growth and innovation in the years to come.
Written by: Christine Nguyen
