In the 12 months to September 2023, the ACT had the highest ever number of visitor nights, the highest ever expenditure, and the third highest number of domestic visitors in the ACT in a twelve-month period, according to Tourism Research Australia, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced.

“Tourism to Canberra and visitor expenditure in our city is booming and making an even greater contribution to the ACT economy,” Mr Barr said.

In total, visitors to the ACT stayed 12.7 million visitor nights: 3.9 million from international visitors, and 8.8 million from domestic overnight visitors.

Visitors to Canberra spent the most ever in a single year: $3.66 billion, $230 million more than the previous year ending June 2023 record high. $417 million came from international expenditure; $2.4 billion from domestic overnight expenditure; and $799 million from domestic day expenditure. On average, domestic overnight visitors spent $277 per trip, and domestic day visitors $341 per trip.

5.68 million people visited Canberra, the fourth highest number ever recorded in a twelve-month period. Visitor numbers have now recovered to 93 per cent of pre-COVID levels, while the number of international visitors is now at 63 per cent of pre-COVID levels.

170,000 were international overnight visitors – 13 per cent from the UK, 12 per cent from India, and 10 per cent from China.

3.2 million were domestic overnight visitors (with the biggest increase from regional Victoria), 38 per cent visiting friends and relatives, 29 per cent traveling on business, and 24 per cent for a holiday. Overnight visitors increased from most states and territories.

2.3 million were domestic day visitors, 48 per cent coming for a holiday, and 15 per cent travelling on business.

NSW was the biggest source of domestic visitors: 39 per cent of domestic overnight visitors and 21 per cent of domestic day visitors came from Sydney, and 28 per cent of domestic overnight visitors and 52 per cent of domestic day visitors from regional NSW.

433,271 people went to Floriade, which generated $38 million in economic activity for the Territory.

“These results show we are on track to exceed the target set in the T2030 Tourism Strategy for our visitor economy to reach $4 billion by the end of the decade,” Mr Barr said.

The Strategy, published last year, aims to grow Canberra’s visitor economy to $3.1 billion by 2025, and to $4 billion by 2030, Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced.

The ACT will return to its pre-pandemic overnight visitor expenditure level of $2.5 billion by 2026, Mr Barr expects.

“Improving access to international markets will be key in exceeding this target, and will continue to be a focus for the Government in 2024.”

A new round of the Government’s Tourism Product Development Fund is now open, with $500,000 available in funding. Applications will close on 12 February 2024. Details are available at www.tourism.act.gov.au.