NSW attracts highest visitation and spending by international visitors

With eight million overseas tourists spending a record $41.2 billion during the year ending September 2017, NSW continues to be Australia’s leading destination in attracting overseas visitors and the tourist dollar.

The latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) from Tourism Research Australia shows a record 268 million nights over the year, with growth led by key Asian markets including China, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Japan.

During the past 12 months Australia welcomed 1.33 million Chinese visitors, a number approaching its largest arrivals market of New Zealand with 1.35 million.

NSW welcomed 4.1 million visitors in the past 12 months who spent a record $10.4 billion during their stay.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said visitor expenditure in NSW was at an all-time high with record spending fueling the local visitor economy.

Minister Marshall advised “NSW is the first Australian State to ever achieve these numbers.

“Rural and regional NSW recorded significant growth in both international visitors and expenditure over the last year, with 832,000 million visitors who spent $1.1 billion – a growth of 30% over the last 12 months.

“More visitors to our regions means stronger local economies and I look forward to continuing to boost our efforts to drive the dispersal of international visitors beyond the fringes of Sydney and into rural and regional areas.”

NSW is still the firm favourite for Chinese visitors, who totalled 752,000 in the 12 months between August 2016 and September 2017. 

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