Sydney set to welcome 15 million summer visitors

With summer here, Sydney’s peak tourism season has begun, with 15 million visitors due to holiday in the city through the coming months.

Looking forward to the economic benefits that this will bring, NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres explains “Sydney truly dazzles during Summer – hotels are busy, restaurant bookings are strong, attractions typically experience peak visitation and the calendar is full of fantastic major events including Sydney Festival, Australia Day celebrations, the HSBC Rugby Sevens, among many others."

According to Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, summer visitors will make the most of the city’s most famous assets and attractions : its dining scene, dynamic shopping precincts and landmark beaches top the most popular warm weather activities for holidaymakers.

4.3 million visitors will dine out, another 2.1 million will shop in Sydney’s boutiques and shopping precincts, and 1.6 million will take a dip at one of Sydney’s world-famous beaches.

More than 1.8 million visitors undertake self-drive holidays during the period, and day trips increase by 11%.

Australian visitors to Sydney will put a trip to Darling Harbour at the top of their itinerary with 38% of visitors planning a trip to see the waterfront precinct. A further 25% will visit The Rocks and 22% will head to Bondi.

Getting back to nature is also a priority for holidaymakers with 424,000 heading into the bush to go bushwalking. The most popular national parks for visitors include the Blue Mountains, Kuring-gai Chase, Lane Cove and, of course, Sydney Harbour.

Destination NSW Chief Executive Sandra Chipchase recommends that visitors plan their trip, stating “there’s nowhere else like Sydney and NSW in Summer.

“Holidaymakers should plan their adventure in Sydney to make the most of this spectacular time of the year.”

For more information on attractions and experiences in Sydney this summer, visit www.sydney.com

*Figures produced by Tourism Research Australia based on the December 2014 and March 2015 quarters.

Image: Coogee Beach (top) and Sydney Harbour and Opera House (below). Images courtesy of Destination NSW/Hamilton Lund.

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