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Newly released data from the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) shows that Australians are now spending more on domestic tourism than they were before the pandemic with $10.1 billion flowing into the industry in October.

TTF’s new monthly tourism reporting initiative - the Hemisphere Digital TRiiiPSTM spend predictor, enabled by Visa - shows that the spending is mainly in their own state, while spending by international visitors is also on the rise.

TTF’s analysis of spending by domestic and international tourists will, as of this month, be published monthly, revealing the most up-to-date tourism reporting of its kind ever released in Australia.

The latest national domestic tourism spend for October shows a 9% increase on pre-Covid levels, compared with October 2019, with the highest amount spent in Queensland ($2.7 billion) followed by NSW ($2.1 billion).

November’s national forecast for domestic tourism spending is $9.3 billion, which would also be 9% higher than pre-Covid levels, compared with November 2019.

The data shows the greatest spend in October was from Australians travelling within their own state, with intrastate domestic travel 14% above pre-Covid levels at $6.2 billion.

The top 10 locations where Australians are spending the most on tourism nationally are:

1. Melbourne
2. Sydney
3. Brisbane
4. Perth
5. Gold Coast
6. NSW North Coast
7. Sunshine Coast
8. NSW South Coast
9. Adelaide
10. Tropical North Queensland

Welcoming the figures, saying it’s pleasing that the industry is on the path to recovery, TTF Chief Executive, Margy Osmond stated “the appetite for domestic travel is overwhelming. More Australians are choosing to holiday here than overseas and we expect that to continue over the peak summer holiday period.

“We’re also seeing more Australians holidaying in their own state. By exploring their own backyard, they’re saving money and taking advantage of Australia’s spectacular natural beauty.”

Spending by international visitors in Australia in October is still 16% below pre-Covid levels at $2.3 billion, and this is forecast to lift to $2.5 billion in November, which remains 16% pre-Covid levels compared with November 2019.

However, spending by international visitors has improved from the $1.9 billion in September, which was 19% below pre-Covid levels.

The fastest recovery in spending by international visitors has been in the ACT (only 1% below pre-Covid levels for October), Western Australia (only 2% below pre-Covid levels for October) and the Northern Territory (4% below pre-Covid levels for October).

Osmond added “inbound international tourism is still behind levels seen before the pandemic but we expect things will pick up over summer, as more overseas visitors take advantage of Australia’s warmer months.

“We expect spending by international visitors will lift further throughout next year, as airline capacity increases and international confidence in Australia as an attractive holiday destination returns.”

Images: Tasmania's Freycinet Experience (top) and TTF's Margy Osmond (below).

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