NSW was the top destination state for international and domestic visitors in 2018, well ahead of Victoria and Queensland, according to the latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) and National Visitor Survey (NVS). 

NSW received 4.3 million international visitors who stayed 95.5 million nights, spending $10.6 billion. 

“This meant NSW exceeded Victoria by 1.3 million visitors, 25.3 million nights and $2.4 billion in spend while we outperformed Queensland by 1.6 million visitors, 41.1 million nights and $4.8 billion in spend,” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said. 

Overall, Australia welcomed 8.4 million international visitors, which was a 6 per cent rise from the previous. They stayed approximately 271 million nights and spent $43.2 billion. 

China was the biggest market that contributed to the growth, with their visitation rate increasing 8 per cent to 1.3 million, and spending rate increasing 12 per cent to $11.5 billion. 

In addition, NSW received 33.6 million domestic visitors who stayed 105.1 million nights, spending more than $20 billion. 

“In terms of interstate and intrastate visitors combined, NSW leads Victoria by 8.3 million visitors, 31.7 million nights and $5.8 billion expenditure; and Queensland by 10.8 million visitors, 13 million nights and $2.8 billion in expenditure,” Mr Perrottet said. 

Sydney’s domestic visitor number increased by 9 per cent, while regional NSW visitor numbers increased by 8 per cent. 

Overall, domestic overnight travel in Australia reached 102.7 million for the year, which was a 7 per cent rise from the previous. 

Domestic visitor spending also rose by 10 per cent, which recorded $70.3 billion. 

Total overnight spend for both international and domestic visitors reached $113.4 billion, up 8 per cent from the previous.