Brisbane’s growing leisure experiences, world-class dining and accommodation, packed calendar of major events and unbeatable winter sunshine saw domestic visitor spend rise to $7.5 billion, up 8.5% YoY, while international spending increased to $3.2 billion, up 10.1% from 2019.

The latest Tourism Research Australia data for the year ending June 2024 showed Brisbane’s visitor growth outpacing Australia and Queensland, with the city hosting 8.8 million total visitors, including record numbers from five international markets including Canada, the USA, Indonesia, South Korea and New Zealand.

Visitors from South Korea were up 44% from 2019, supported by increased direct flights to Seoul launched in February this year, while visitors from Canada jumped 25% in the same period. North America was up an astonishing 9.4% on 2019 figures, to 162,000 visitors.

Brisbane also continued to dominate domestic markets, with a record 12.8 million interstate visitor nights, up 4.8% YoY, and record numbers of visitors from Melbourne, up 21.8% YoY to 743,000, and visitors from Sydney up 32.7% to 1 million YoY.

Sydneysiders enjoyed a record 3.4 million nights in the city, up 45.3% YoY, while Melbourne visitors enjoyed 3.2 million nights, up 35.9%.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane just keeps getting better with the city’s popularity with visitors from Australia and the world at an all-time high.

“Visitors from across the country and the world are embracing Brisbane as Australia’s lifestyle capital, with millions of people wanting to experience the very best of our region,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Brisbane has more to see and do than ever before including our world-class lifestyle precincts like Howard Smith Wharves, Fish Lane and the brand-new Queen’s Wharf, our packed events calendar and our unrivalled natural experiences.

“Visitors are coming in droves to stay in our hotels, enjoy our tourism experiences, and indulge in our incredible dining and shopping scene, which means local businesses are boosted as our economy grows even stronger.” 

Brisbane Economic Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ryan said the city’s growing global reputation, increasing aviation routes and targeted marketing campaigns were fueling Brisbane’s growth.

“Brisbane is booming, and these record-breaking numbers highlight the impact of growing airline routes and BEDA’s destination marketing campaigns, including our acclaimed ‘Brisbane Favours the Bold’ campaign targeting interstate visitors, and key activity across North America and Southeast Asia,” Mr Ryan said.

“This work supports domestic and international flights and ensures visitors extend their stay to soak up the abundance of activities and attractions across the region.

“Brisbane’s growing visitor economy is a big win for the city, supporting local jobs and businesses. Our status as Host City for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and growing reputation for world-class dining, accommodation, and tourism, have positioned Brisbane as the place to be.”

BEDA’s acclaimed destination marketing activity continues to grow Brisbane’s brand and support visitation from key domestic and international markets. The successful ‘Brisbane Favours the Bold’ domestic marketing campaign achieved more than $70.6m in potential economic benefit to the city, generating $6.2m in direct booking revenue through conversion partners.

Brisbane’s National Visitor Survey results – Year ending June 2024

• Total expenditure – $7.5 billion, up 8.5% YoY – RECORD
• Total visitors – 7.5 million visitors, up 4.7% YoY
• Total visitor nights – 23.7 million nights, up 6.1% YoY – RECORD
• Intrastate total visitors – 4.2 million, up 3.6% YoY
• Interstate total visitors – 3.3 million, up 6.1% YoY
• Interstate visiting friends & relatives (VFR) – 1.3 million, up 5.6% YoY – RECORD
• Interstate total nights – 12.8 million nights, up 4.8% YoY – RECORD
• Business visitors – 1.9 million visitors, up 20.5% YoY
• Business intrastate visitors – 777,000, up 24.9% YoY – RECORD

Brisbane’s International Visitor Survey results – Year ending June 2024

• Total expenditure – $3.2 billion, up 10.1% on 2019
• Total visitors – 1.2 million visitors, down 15.7% on 2019
• Total visitor nights – 27.1 million nights, unchanged on 2019
• Holiday nights – 5.7 million nights, down 19.5% on 2019
• Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) – 440,000, down 3.1% on 2019
• Business visitors – 137,000 down 2.4% on 2019
• Employment visitors – 33,000, up 50% on 2019
• Employment visitor nights – 3.8 million nights, up 203.3% on 2019 – RECORD

Source markets to Brisbane

• Sydney visitors – 1 million, up 32.7% YoY
• Sydney visitor nights – 3.4 million, up 45.3% YoY – RECORD
• New South Wales holiday visitors – 490,000, up 10.1% YoY – RECORD
• Melbourne visitors – 743,000, up 21.8% YoY – RECORD
• Melbourne visitor nights – 3.2 million, up 35.9% YoY – RECORD
• Victorian total visitors – 968,000, up 11.6% YoY – RECORD
• Victorian total visitor nights – 4.2 million, up 21.5% YoY – RECORD
• New Zealand – 241,000, up 5.2% on 2019 – RECORD
• United Kingdom – 136,000, up 5.9% on 2019
• United States of America – 114,000, up 3.9% on 2019 – RECORD
• China – 95,000, down 34.2% on 2019
• South Korea – 62,000, up 44% on 2019 – RECORD
• Canada – 48,000, up 25% on 2019 – RECORD
• Indonesia – 19,000, up 16.1% on 2019 – RECORD
• North America total visitors – 162,000, up 9.4% on 2019 – RECORD