The latest Tourism Research Australia data for the year ending September 2023 revealed record-breaking visitor spend, with $7.2 billion total domestic overnight expenditure, up 35% YoY and 36.8% from 2019.

With a rising need for affordability and accessibility under the cost-of-living pinch, interstate visitors continue to choose Brisbane for a holiday, with a total of 7.1 million total visitors to the city, up 6.4% YoY.

When looking at the September quarter, Brisbane recorded 862,000 interstate holiday visitors, up 42.9% YoY, with interstate holidaymakers racking up 3 million interstate holiday nights in Brisbane, up 4.8% YoY.

Behind the surge were Victorians with 802,000 interstate visitors to Brisbane, up 17.2% YoY as well as visitors from New South Wales with 1.6 million interstate visitors in Brisbane up 20.8% YoY.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane’s booming popularity with interstate holidaymakers reinforced its reputation as an unbeatable year-round destination.

“Time Magazine and travel bible Frommer’s have both acknowledged Brisbane as a must-see destination and it’s clear our southern neighbours have jumped on the trend,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Brisbane is renowned as Australia’s lifestyle capital with natural beauty on our doorstep, world-class hotels and restaurants, and a wide range of free and affordable activities for visitors to enjoy.

“I encourage all holidaymakers to choose Brisbane and soak up our wonderful city.”

Brisbane’s core international markets are still seeing growth, welcoming over 800,000 international holiday visitors from January to September 2023, with most arriving from New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States, for 17.9 million total visitor nights.

Travellers arriving from South Korea recorded the largest increase in international visitors, up 12.9% on 2019, with travellers also increasing from India up 12.1% on 2019.

BEDA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ryan said the latest results are testament to BEDA’s focus in connecting with key tourism growth markets.

“BEDA has led the charge with trade and marketing activity promoting Brisbane as a leading leisure destination with key domestic and international markets,” Mr Ryan said.

“Across the entire Brisbane region, we continue to deliver diverse world-class experiences and events, supercharging our visitor economy and delivering economic benefits across the entire region.

“Brisbane has received some truly incredible accolades in the past 12 months and is certainly leading the way - with new hotels, restaurants and tourism experiences ready for visitors to enjoy.”

Brisbane’s National Visitor Survey results – Year ending September 2023

• Total expenditure – $7.2 billion, up 35% YoY, up 36.8% on 2019 – RECORD
• Total visitors – 7.1 million visitors, up 6.4% YoY
• Total visitor nights – 21.3 million nights, down 2.3% YoY
• Holiday visitors – 2.4 million visitors, up 17.1% YoY, up 5.4% on 2019
• Total spend per visitor – $1,014, up 26.8% YoY, up 54.1% on 2019
• Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) – 2.7 million visitors, down 5.2% YoY
• Business visitors – 1.6 million visitors, up 19.3% YoY

Brisbane’s International Visitor Survey results – Year ending September 2023

• Total visitors – 812,000 visitors, down 23.2% on 2019
• Total visitor nights – 17.9 million nights, down 13.7% on 2019
• International Holiday nights – 6 million in January to September down 28.9% on same period in 2019
• Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) – 301,000, down 9.4% on 2019
• Business visitors – 94,000, down 7% on 2019

Source markets to Brisbane

• Intrastate total visitors – 4.1 million, down 2.6% YoY
• Intrastate holiday nights – 4.7m down 2.5 % YoY.
• Interstate total visitors – 3 million, up 21.8% YoY
• Interstate holiday visitors – 862,000 up 42.9 % YoY
• Interstate holiday nights – 3 million up 4.8 % YoY
• New South Wales total visitors – 1.6 million visitors, up 20.8% YoY
• Victorian total visitors – 802,000 visitors, up 17.2% YoY
• New Zealand – 160,000, down 6.6% on 2019
• United Kingdom – 76,000, down 11.8% on 2019
• United States of America – 71,000, down 8% on 2019
• South Korea – 36,000, up 12.9% on 2019
• India – 36,000, up 12.1% on 2019
• Other Asia – 44,000, up 37% on 2019