INTERNATIONAL VISITOR RECOVERY: NSW LEADS THE NATION

The NSW visitor economy is leading Australia's recovery from the pandemic, with new data showing NSW recorded the largest absolute increase nationally for international visitors, nights and expenditure in the year ending June 2023.

According to Tourism Research Australia, international visitors took 5.4 million trips to Australia during the period, with the lion's share - over 2.7 million - coming to NSW (up 451.3 per cent on the year ending June 2022). They stayed 67.8 million nights in NSW (up 221.5 per cent) and spent $8.6 billion (up 344.8 per cent) in the state.

NSW received a total of 38.9 million domestic and international overnight visitors (up 53.3 per cent on the year ending June 2022), who stayed 182.7 million nights (up 71.6 per cent) and spent $38.9 billion (up 98.8 per cent).

Pre-pandemic, NSW received 41.6 million domestic and international overnight visitors in the year to June 2019, who stayed 214.2 million nights and spent $33.9 billion.

Total overnight visitation to Sydney was 13.2 million (up 92.4 per cent compared to year ending June 2022), visitor nights increased to 87.5 million (up 128.5 per cent) and expenditure increased to $19 billion (up 172.1 per cent).

Domestic overnight visitors to NSW increased to 36.2 million (up 11.3 million or 45.4 per cent compared to the year ending June 2022), visitor nights increased to 114.9 million (up 29.5 million or 34.6 per cent) and expenditure increased to $30.2 billion (up $12.6 billion or 71.7 per cent).

Domestic overnight visitors to Sydney increased to 10.7 million (up 67.2 per cent compared to year ended June 2022), visitor nights 30.1 million (up 60 per cent) and expenditure increased to $11.1 million (up 116 per cent).

Western Sydney accounted for one in five domestic overnight visitors to Sydney (19.9 per cent) in the year ending June 2023.

Western Sydney welcomed a total of 2.1 million domestic overnight visitors in the year ended June 2023 (up 57.4 per cent). They stayed 5.4 million nights and spent $1.2 billion (representing an increase of 43.9 per cent and 104.2 per cent respectively).

All NSW regions registered huge increases in domestic visitors and expenditure, which is testament to the amazing visitor experiences and world-class accommodation on offer in our spectacular state.

The North Coast received 5.7 million domestic overnight visitors, leading the regions in visitors, nights and expenditure.

NSW is accelerating on the road to post-pandemic recovery and has reached 74.7 per cent of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy’s target of $65 billion for total visitor expenditure by 2030.