AUSTRALIA | Visitor expenditure in NSW has surged past AUD 60 billion for the first time, following a record-breaking year for international tourism.
The latest Tourism Research Australia data shows international visitor expenditure rose by 25.1 percent in 2025 to a record AUD 15 billion, while domestic visitor expenditure reached AUD 45.4 billion (up 3.5 percent year-on-year).
There were 4.1 million international visitors to NSW during 2025, a significant increase of eight percent year-on-year. These visitors stayed 105.9 million nights in NSW in the year ending December 2025, a significant increase of 5.1 percent year-on-year and the highest number of visitor nights on record for the state.
The top three international source markets to NSW were China, the United States and New Zealand. China was the highest contributor to visitor growth, with arrivals rising by 16.6 percent and expenditure reaching AUD 5.5 billion.
Visitation from the US rose 7.2 percent year-on-year, while expenditure surged by 29.8 percent to AUD 1.1 billion, the second consecutive period on record that the US has surpassed the billion-dollar benchmark.
International visitor markets that surpassed 2019 visitation levels in 2025 included South Korea (150 percent), Vietnam (144 percent), the Philippines (130 percent), the United Kingdom (108 percent), and India (102 percent).
Sydney was the number one Australian capital city for international visitation in 2025, at 3.8 million (up from 3.5 million in 2024), with expenditure rising to AUD 88.2 million (up from AUD 83.6 million in the year ending December 2024).
Tourism sectors that saw strong year-on-year international visitor growth during 2025 included:
Caravan and camping: 86,000 international visitors to NSW participated in caravan and camping experiences in 2025 (up 10.4 percent year-on-year) and stayed 801,500 nights in caravan and camping accommodation (up 24.3 percent year-on-year)
Culinary tourism: 1.2 million international visitors to NSW engaged in a food experience during their trip (up 5.7 percent year-on-year) and spent AUD 6.8 billion across their whole trip to Australia (up 17.4 percent year-on-year)
Wine tourism: 243,500 international visitors to NSW in 2025 visited a winery in NSW (up 2.8 percent year-on-year) and spent AUD 1.5 billion across their whole trip to Australia (up 30.1 percent year-on-year)
3.4 million international visitors to NSW engaged in nature and outdoor-based activities during their trip (up 7.7 percent year-on-year). These visitors spent AUD 13.5 billion in NSW (up 23.1 percent year-on-year).
Domestic overnight and daytrip visitors to NSW also increased in 2025, with the state welcoming 123.2 million domestic visitors (up 4.5 percent year-on-year), who spent AUD 45.4 billion during their trip (up 3.5 percent year-on-year).
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