The latest Tourism Research Australia data for the year ending June 2023 revealed record numbers of interstate visitors were choosing Brisbane for a holiday, with 866,000 holiday visitors, up 129.2% YoY and 10.9% from 2019.

Holidaymakers from states including New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia racked up 3.2 million interstate visitor nights in Brisbane, up 53.7% YoY and 17% on 2019. Victorians were behind a significant surge, with 261,000 visitors holidaying in Brisbane, up nearly 50% (49.7%) from 2019.

Brisbane also had record-breaking visitor spend, with $6.9 billion total overnight expenditure, up 72.5% YoY and 31.5% from 2019.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said interstate visitors loved Brisbane’s lifestyle with the city continuing to grow in popularity as a tourism destination.

“With natural beauty on our doorstep, world-class hotels and restaurants, and a jam-packed events calendar that grabs headlines around the world, Australians know that Brisbane is the place to be” Cr Schrinner said.

“In the past 12 months, Brisbane has been named one of TIME Magazine’s world’s greatest places to visit, was given the title of Australia’s sporting capital and has seen Agnes recognised as Australia’s number one restaurant, and The Calile Hotel as Australia’s best hotel.

“As we head into summer and the festive season, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors, including those visiting friends and relatives, to enjoy our incredible Queensland lifestyle.”

Whilst international visitors are still recovering post-COVID, Queensland’s booming capital also welcomed close to 200,000 international holiday visitors from January to June 2023, with most arriving from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and United States, for 11.6 million total visitor nights, down just 12.4% for the same period in 2019.

Travellers arriving from India recorded the largest increase in international visitors, up 9.9% on 2019, while Air Canada’s direct flights into Brisbane enticed more Canadians to Brisbane than the same period in 2019, up 6.6% in the April to June quarter.

“Through the Brisbane Economic Development Agency, we’re proud to support the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF) in bringing new and expanded airline routes, and excited international travellers, to Brisbane,” Cr Schrinner said.

“After years of closed borders, it’s fantastic to see travellers from across the world take advantage of international travel once more.

“Whether it’s your first time in Brisbane or a long overdue reunion with family and friends, we know Brisbane has something to offer everyone.

Brisbane’s National Visitor Survey results – Year ending June 2023

• Total expenditure – $6.9 billion, up 72.5% YoY, up 31.5% on 2019 – RECORD
• Total visitors – 7.2 million visitors, up 28.2% YoY
• Total visitor nights – 22.4 million nights, up 27.4% YoY
• Holiday visitors – 2.4 million visitors, up 43.5% YoY, up 5% on 2019
• Holiday visitor nights – 6.9 million, up 28.2% YoY, up 11.20% on 2019
• Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) – 2.8 million visitors, up 16.3% YoY
• Business visitors – 1.6 million visitors, up 42.3% YoY

Brisbane’s International Visitor Survey results – Year ending June 2023

• Total visitors – 504,000 visitors, down 26.8% on 2019
• Total visitor nights – 11.6 million nights, down 12.6% on 2019
• Holiday nights – 2.3 million nights, down 27.1% on 2019
• Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) – 195,000, down 9.6% on 2019
• Business visitors – 52,000, down 16% on 2019

Source markets to Brisbane

• Intrastate total visitors – 4.1 million, up 3.3% YoY
• Intrastate holiday nights – 7 million, up 11.8% YoY
• Interstate total visitors – 3.1 million, up 87.6% YoY
• Interstate holiday visitors – 866,000 visitors, up 129.2% YoY – RECORD
• Interstate holiday nights – 2 million, up, 53.7% YoY
• New South Wales holiday nights – 445,000, up 138.9% YoY
• Victorian holiday nights – 261,000, up 49.7% on 2019
• New Zealand – 94,000, down 6.3% on 2019
• United Kingdom – 52,000, down 14.1% on 2019
• United States of America – 42,000, down 16.5% on 2019
• India – 25,000, up 9.9% on 2019
• Singapore – 12,000, down 14% on 2019
• Canada – 9000 (April - June 2023 quarter), up 6.6% on 2019