The Brisbane region hit an all-time high of $11 billion in visitor spending and recorded an unprecedented 52.9 million visitor nights for the year ending September 2024, according to new data from Tourism Research Australia.

Brisbane also set historic records in domestic visitation, with more Australians than ever choosing the city as a must-visit destination. Domestic visitor spending reached a record $7.9 billion, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, while visitor numbers climbed 14.3 per cent to 8.1 million and visitor nights surged 17.8 per cent to 25.1 million.

Southern states flocked to Brisbane in record numbers with more visitors than ever from Sydney, Melbourne, New South Wales and Victoria. Business visitors from across Australia also skyrocketed, with an unprecedented 2.1 million traveling to Brisbane, up 34.3 per cent.

Brisbane highlights:

• Total overnight visitor expenditure: $11 billion – RECORD
• Total visitor nights: 52.9 million – RECORD
• Domestic expenditure – $7.9 billion, up 9.3% YoY – RECORD
• Domestic visitors – 8.1 million visitors, up 14.3% YoY – RECORD
• Domestic visitor nights – 25.1 million nights, up 17.8% YoY – RECORD
• Sydney visitor nights – 3.6 million, up 42% YoY – RECORD
• Melbourne visitor nights – 3.3 million, up 67.9% YoY – RECORD
• Domestic business visitors – 2.1 million, up 34.3% - RECORD

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane’s booming popularity was driving the city’s incredible economic growth.

“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital, and once people experience our city, they fall in love and keep coming back,” Cr Schrinner said.

“We’re one of the most exciting, talked-about cities in the world, and it’s easy to see why.

“Our packed calendar of major events, world-class dining and vibrant lifestyle precincts like Howard Smith Wharves, West Village, Fish Lane and South Bank have made us a must-do destination for local and international visitors alike.

“Brisbane’s thriving visitor economy continues to support our local businesses and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to Brisbane in 2025.”

Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO Anthony Ryan said collaboration across the city was helping drive record visitation.

“Brisbane’s growth is a testament to the vision, collaboration, and dedication of our visitor economy businesses and partners. These record-breaking results highlight the growing appeal of our city—and we’re only just getting started,” Mr Ryan said.

“BEDA’s Brisbane Favours the Bold marketing campaign has been a game-changer, attracting record numbers of visitors from across the country to experience everything Brisbane has to offer.

“It’s been a landmark year for Brisbane, and we’re thrilled to finish on such a high note. The momentum will only grow in 2025.”

BEDA is the city’s key driver of tourism, events and investment, and the Regional Tourism Organisation for Brisbane and the five surrounding councils including Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Logan and Redlands Coast.

The surge in business travel reflects Brisbane’s booming economy, outlined in BEDA’s 2024 State of the City Report, which forecast an impressive 68% economic growth for the city by 2041.

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

• Total expenditure – $7.9 billion, up 9.3% YoY – RECORD
• Total visitors – 8.1 million visitors, up 14.3% YoY – RECORD
• Total visitor nights – 25.1 million nights, up 17.8% YoY – RECORD
• Interstate visitors – 3.7 million - RECORD
• Interstate holiday visitors – 903,000, up 4.7% - RECORD
• Business visitors – 2.1 million visitors, up 34.3% YoY – RECORD
• Business visitor nights – 5.6 million nights – up 44.8% - RECORD
• Visiting friends and family – 11 million visitor nights, up 23.4% YoY– RECORD

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

• Total expenditure – $3.1 billion, up 8.5% on 2019
• Total visitors – 1.3 million visitors, down 15.3% on 2019
• Total visitor nights – 27.8 million nights, up 2.8% on 2019
• Average length of stay – 22.2 nights, up 3.9 nights on 2019
• Holiday nights – 6.8 million nights, down 4.7% on 2019
• Visiting friends and family – 9 million visitor nights, up 13.7% on 2019

Source markets to Brisbane

• Sydney visitors – 1.1 million, up 34.8% YoY – RECORD
• Sydney visitor nights – 3.6 million, up 42% YoY – RECORD
• Melbourne visitors – 772,000, up 30.3% YoY – RECORD
• Melbourne visitor nights – 3.3 million, up 67.9% YoY – RECORD
• Victorian total visitors – 1.1 million, up 32.5% YoY – RECORD
• Victorian total visitor nights – 4.3 million, up 48.4% YoY – RECORD
• New Zealand – 249,000, up 8.7% on 2019 – RECORD
• United Kingdom – 140,000, up 8.7% on 2019
• United States of America – 103,000, down 5.3% on 2019
• China – 116,000, down 58% on 2019
• South Korea – 55,000, up 27.8% on 2019
• Canada – 43,000, up 11.4% on 2019
• Japan – 46,000, down 1.2% on 2019
• India – 46,000, up 6.5% on 2019