Visitors Spend Up Big in Brisbane

Record numbers of international visitors are spending up big in Brisbane as two international travel bibles sing the city's praises.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said preliminary results from Tourism Australia's International Visitor Survey revealed the number of overseas visitors climbed 9.7 per cent to an all-time high of 1.4 million in the year to September.

“These visitors went on a spending spree in Brisbane, with their expenditure climbing a massive 20.5 per cent to a record $2.7 billion over the year,” Cr Schrinner said.

“All of our top international markets are performing strongly with Chinese visitors up 15.8 per cent, New Zealand visitors climbing 13 per cent, UK visitors rising 4.4 per cent and US visitors up 5.7 per cent.”

Cr Schrinner said Brisbane's growing reputation as a tourism destination had recently been reinforced in the US with two of the country's top travel magazines singing the city's praises.

Travel + Leisure named Brisbane as one of the 50 best places to travel in 2019, citing the city's new hotels, the Howard Smith Wharves redevelopment and our arts' scene as reasons to visit.

Not to be outdone, US Conde Nast Traveler coupled Brisbane with the Whitsundays as one of the 19 best places to go in 2019, saying our city is the perfect gateway destination with its 'super-cool' city hotels.

Cr Schrinner said the latest National Visitor Survey, also released today, revealed Australian visitors were also spending up big in Brisbane.

“Australian visitors spent a record $4.4 billion in Brisbane in the year to September,” he said.

“The total number of domestic visitors to Brisbane reached 7.2 million over the year and, of these, we saw a record 2.1 million holidaymakers converge on the city – up 11.7 per cent.

“Brisbane is really building momentum in the tourism space as our exciting new hotels, venues and precincts enhance our reputation both nationally and internationally as a destination of choice.”

Brisbane's preliminary international visitor results, year-ending September 2018
All Visitors – up 9.7% to 1.4 million – record
Expenditure – up 20.5% to $2.7B – record

Brisbane markets
China – All visitors up 15.8% to 257,000
New Zealand – All visitors – up 13% to 220,000 - record
UK – All visitors – up 4.4% to 132,000
USA – All visitors – up 5.7% to 99,000
Taiwan – All visitors – up 39.1% to 60,000 - record

Brisbane national visitor results, year-ending September 2018
Total expenditure - $4.4B up 5.4% - record
Total visitors - 7.2 million - stable
Holiday visitors - 2.1 million - up 11.7% - record