Page last updated: 23 April 2024
Australia consistently draws in travellers from around the world stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich cultural diversity. From large cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, to natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru, it attracts millions of visitors each year.
How many people visit Australia every year?
In a rebound from the pandemic’s impacts, Australia welcomed 6.6 million international visitors by the close of 2023 (achieving 76% of 2019 levels).
- Over 2.4 million came to see family and friends, while over 2.6 million listed holidays as their main reason for making the trip. Education is also a popular reason for visits, with over 418,000 coming to Australia to study.
How much do visitors spend in Australia every year?
In 2023, visitor expenditure in Australia saw an increase, with total spend reaching $28.0 billion (achieving 89% of 2019 levels).
- Over $4.6 billion was spent by those visiting friends and relatives, and approximately $8.3 billion was spent by holiday travellers, with about $10.4 billion spent by education-focused visitors.
Where do visitors to Australia come from?
- New Zealand has consistently ranked as the leading source of visitors to Australia over the past four years, with the number exceeding 1.1 million in 2023 alone and contributing $2.0 billion to the Australian economy.
- Other significant sources include the UK with 617,000 visits, the USA with 561,000, and key Asian countries like China and India with 507,000 and 375,000 trips respectively.
How long do visitors stay in Australia?
- Visitors stayed on average 35 nights per trip to Australia—spending over 242.3 million nights in Australia in 2023.
How many people visited Australia in 2022?
Australia had over 3.4 million visitors in the year ending December 2022.
- New South Wales stood out as the preferred destination, attracting over 1.58 million tourists, with Victoria closely following, welcoming 1.04 million visitors.
How much did visitors spend in Australia in 2022?
In 2022, International visitors contributed over $12.7 billion to the Australian economy.
- New South Wales and Victoria were the main beneficiaries, with tourist spending reaching over $5 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively.
Impact of Coronavirus – Australia Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021
- Throughout the April 2020 to March 2021 period, Australia allowed entry to only 60,200 international visitors, a decrease of 99.3% from the previous year’s over 8 million visitors, due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel.
- During the same period, visitors spent $794 million in Australia, representing a 98.1% drop from the more than $41 billion spent the year prior. Visitors from the US were the highest-spending group in this period, with expenditures of $115 million.
Top Attractions in Australia
- Great Ocean Road, Victoria: A scenic drive that stretches along Australia’s rugged southeast coast, offering views of plunging sea cliffs.
- Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory: This World Heritage site is best known for Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the dome-shaped rocks called Kata Tjuta. It’s a spiritual and culturally significant area for the Anangu traditional owners.
- Rottnest Island, Western Australia: Locally known as ‘Rotto’, the island features crystal-clear waters, and unique wildlife, including the famous quokka.
- Sydney Opera House, New South Wales: An iconic symbol of Australia, it is recognized worldwide for its innovative design and hosts over 1,500 performances each year.
- Great Barrier Reef, Queensland: The largest coral reef system in the world, attracting tourists with diving and snorkelling experiences to explore the rich marine life.
Historical Statistics
Australian Tourism Statistics – 2012
References
TRA: International Tourism Result and Survey
ABS: Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, June 2020
TTF: Estimated Impact Of Coronavirus On The Australian Visitor Economy