Snapshot reveals rising value of tourism to Melbourne

Tourism Victoria's just released 2012/13 Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) reveal that visitors to Melbourne contributed a total of $13.8 billion in direct visitor consumption to the city's economy during the 2012/13 financial year.

The TSA, which measures the direct and indirect impacts of tourism on the local economy, showed a tourism's total Gross Regional Product (GRP) as being worth $8.5 billion – an increase of 4.5% from 2011/12 to 2012/13.

The TSA also showed that Melbourne's visitor industry employed almost 94,000 people (4.6% of employment) during this period, an estimated increase of 2.2% on the previous financial year.

Commenting on the results, Destination Melbourne Chief Executive Laura Cavallo stated "the visitor economy is a key contributor to Melbourne’s economic wellbeing, where businesses large and small benefit from visitor spending, whether it’s for leisure, business or visiting friends and relatives.

“This Satellite Account confirms the visitor economy is one to watch, as it increases year on year, becoming one of Australia’s five super growth sectors. Already 2015 has started positively, with Melbourne Airport breaking its record number of international passenger numbers for the month of January."

During the 2012/13 year, international overnight visitors were the highest contributors to Melbourne’s economy, spending $5.8 billion, while interstate overnight visitors contributed $ 4.5 billion and intrastate overnight visitors contributed $ 1.3 billion.

Daytrippers also contributed a significant $2.1 billion throughout the year.

Since 2006/7, the total tourism GRP in Melbourne has increased at an average rate of 5.6%, while the average rate for total tourism employment over the same period has increased by 3.8% annually.

International visitors may have clocked up the most nights during the year at 41.5 million, but interstate overnight visitors spent the most with an average of $277 a night.

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