International visitor trip expenditure Australia FY 2010-2024

From 2010 to 2019, the total trip expenditure of international tourists visiting Australia had increased steadily. Total trip expenditure fell from over 44 billion Australian dollars in 2019 to an all-time low of around 1.2 billion in 2021. This significant change in an otherwise upward trend was largely due to global travel restrictions. However, international visitor trip expenditure rebounded in the 2024 financial year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels at over 47 billion Australian dollars, indicating a strong recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

International visitors to Australia: where are they traveling from?

Among the top international source markets of visitors to Australia, New Zealand residents led the way, with over 1.2 million visitors to Australia in the year ending June 2024, followed closely by tourists from China at nearly 800,000. The majority of international travelers came for vacations or to visit family and friends, with approximately three million holiday-makers that year. Notably, holiday-makers contributed the highest trip expenditure, at around 16.7 billion Australian dollars.

Regional preferences and economic impact of international tourism

New South Wales emerged as the most popular destination of international visitors by state, welcoming over 3.7 million international travelers in the year ended June 2024. This state alone accounted for more than a third of all international visitor nights across Australia. Tourists from China were the biggest spenders among international arrival groups to Australia in 2024, contributing about nine billion Australian dollars to the economy, followed by visitors from the United States, who spent just over 4.5 billion.