South Australia tourism has outstripped the nation with a 7.4 percent rise in domestic visitor expenditure this year, compared to zero growth nationally.
Visitor numbers to South Australia have also risen 6.1 percent and topped the nation with an increase of 7.4 percent in visitor nights, according to new National Visitor Survey statistics.
SA Minister for Tourism, Gail Gago, said the figures were especially important for regional tourism operators, “who rely so heavily on the domestic tourists who make up 93 percent of our state’s overnight visitorsâ€.
“The statistics show that the rise in domestic visitation is, in fact, being fuelled by regional tourism growth, with a hike of 7.1 per cent in overnight visitor numbers to regional South Australia,†the minister said.
“These latest results, coupled with last week’s growth in international visitor expenditure, make tourism a $4.7 billion industry for South Australia, up 6.9 per cent on a year ago compared to 0.9 per cent growth nationally.â€
Nationwide, spending by domestic overnight visitors was highest in New South Wales ($12.9 billion, up 2.6%), followed by Queensland ($11.3 billion, down 1%) and Victoria ($9 billion, up 4.8%).
The highest average expenditure per night was in Melbourne (A$260), followed by Hobart and Surrounds (A$244), Adelaide (A$234), and Sydney (A$229).
