Record domestic travel spending for NSW and Sydney
Visitor spending has broken records in New South Wales, reaching $31.3 billion for domestic overnight expenditure across the state.
New Tourism Research Australia data for the year ending September 2024 shows Sydney also achieved its highest total domestic expenditure on record at $15.8 billion.
NSW was the number one destination for Australians during the period, drawing 37.3 million domestic overnight visitors (up 3.2 %).
NSW received a total of 100.5 million domestic and international visitors during the period, who spent $52.9 billion, up 5.8 per cent compared to the year ending September 2023.
Destination NSW Acting CEO Stephen Mahoney said: “NSW has the leading visitor economy in the nation and received the highest number of visitors, visitor nights and expenditure in the year ending September 2024.”
“The NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy review has adopted an ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor economy expenditure by 2035 and its experience-led approach to tourism will ensure the state continues to draw visitors.”
Regional NSW continued to be the best performing destination across regional Australia in terms of visitors and nights, with 64.6 million international and domestic travellers visiting regional NSW.
They spent $26.2 billion across the period, an increase of 30.7%.
The North Coast celebrated the highest increase in domestic overnight visitor numbers during the period (up 5.8%), while visitor expenditure was up 2.1% to $4.8 million.
NSW was the top destination in the country for international visitors, nights and expenditure.
There were 3.7 million international visitors to the state in the year ending September 2024 (up 18.4%).
International visitation to the state reached 84% of pre-pandemic levels while the number of nights spent in NSW and expenditure exceeded 2019 levels.
International arrivals at Sydney Airport are predicted to surpass 2019 levels over the summer, accelerated by Destination NSW’s Aviation Attraction Fund.
New routes by Turkish Airlines and Juneyao Air are landing at Sydney Airport this month.
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “Sydney Airport is preparing for its busiest Christmas season for international travel on record, with 300,000 more passengers forecast than the same period in 2019.”
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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