DOMESTIC VISITORS TO NSW CONTINUE TO RISE

NSW continues to lead Australia in visitor numbers, nights and expenditure for domestic visitors according to the latest National Visitor Survey (NVS). Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said each of these had grown by more than three per cent over the past year.

“In the year ended June 2015, NSW welcomed more than 27.4 million domestic visitors who stayed almost 90 million nights and contributed close to $16 billion to the State’s visitor economy, representing the highest level of domestic overnight expenditure since the year ended June 1999,” Mr Ayres said.

“Destination NSW continues to work alongside the NSW tourism industry, developing strategies and campaigns to contribute to the goal of doubling overnight expenditure by 2020, and these outstanding results reflect the success of these activities.”

Regional NSW welcomed more than 19.1 million visitors, and leads regional Australia for domestic visitors and nights. Regional NSW also achieved its highest domestic overnight expenditure since the year ended March 1999.

Central NSW and the Riverina recorded significant growth in visitor numbers of 13 per cent, and the Blue Mountains and Murray both had visitor growth of nine per cent.

Earlier this month, international data showed NSW remains Australia’s undisputed number one destination, with a record 3.3 million international visitors in the last year.

In the June 2015 quarter, world-class events in NSW included Vivid Sydney, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, the Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur matches, Orange F.O.O.D Week, State of Origin Game 1 and the Sydney Royal Easter Show.