Domestic tourism to Canberra at 99% of 2019, international lags behind at 48%

The Australian Parliament House, the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia at twilight,, night. Capital Hill, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
By Zach Havard


Recent Tourism Research Australia (TRA) data looking into travel to the nation’s capital, Canberra, has revealed that domestic visitation is at 99 per cent of 2019 figures, while international lags behind at only 48 per cent of pre-COVID numbers.

The findings highlight the National capital as the travel destination of choice amongst domestic visitors, with the ACT experiencing the biggest growth in domestic overnight visitation, overnight stays and expenditure of all the Australian States and Territories.

Canberra saw a total of 5.57 million visitors arrive in the year ending March 23′, broken into 130 thousand international arrivals, 3.2 million domestic overnight travellers and 2.3 million domestic day trips.

The United Kingdom was the biggest group of overseas travellers to visit Canberra in the time period, making up 14 per cent while India made up 12 per cent and the U.S. 11 per cent.

For domestic visitors, Sydney and regional NSW were the highest demographic for both day and overnight trips, followed by Melbourne and regional Victoria while Brisbane and regional QLD were third highest.

International guests stayed a total of 3.2 million nights, while domestic overnight stays totalled 8.6 million.

Expenditure for overseas arrivals reached $3.8 million while domestic overnight visitors’ expenditure totalled 2.4 billion, with an average of $283 per person per day. Domestic day tourists spent a total of $593 million at an average of $263 per person per day.

The main reason for travel was visiting friends and relatives for international and domestic markets, making up 40 and 36 per cent respectively.  Holiday was the next biggest reason for overseas tourists making up 34 per cent while business was the second biggest domestic reason for travel at 29 per cent.

 

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