The latest Tourism Research Australia figures show Western Australia has led the nation in welcoming more interstate visitors.
The comprehensive report also showed Perth recorded the best visitor growth of any capital city.
The monthly National Visitor Survey results released by Tourism Research Australia today are the authoritative source of tourism statistics for Australia.
This report gives the clearest picture yet of the domestic Australian tourism market after borders re-opened.
WA was the only State to increase interstate visitor numbers in June 2022 compared with the same month in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Interstate visitors to WA jumped 28 per cent – or 35,000 more people than pre-COVID – as 162,000 visitors entered WA in June.
This increase was in contrast to interstate visitor numbers falling in all other States – Victoria down 21 per cent, New South Wales down 18 per cent, Queensland down 10 per cent and South Australia down 6 per cent.
Interstate spending in WA rose sharply by 43 per cent from pre-COVID – up $76 million to $253 million in June this year.
The total domestic spend in WA for both interstate and intrastate visitors was $802 million, up $84 million or 12 per cent compared to pre-COVID.
In a positive sign for Perth, the domestic visitor spend in June reached $426 million, the best result since the start of the pandemic.
This was a 48 per cent increase compared with the same month in 2019 before the pandemic began.
Perth’s growth of 48 per cent was the best of any capital city – Brisbane was up 39 per cent, Adelaide up 28 per cent, Melbourne up 10 per cent and Sydney down 7 per cent.
Perth visitor numbers in June were back to 87 per cent of pre-COVD, again ahead of all other cities.
WA’s interstate and intrastate visitor numbers in June were at 85 per cent of pre-COVID levels.
As stated by Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
“These figures show that Western Australia’s aggressive strategy to turbocharge WA’s tourism industry is working.
“There is still a long way to go but the fact we are already leading the nation in key areas is extremely encouraging.
“The growth in interstate visitors and seeing spending in Perth up almost 50 per cent are a real shot in the arm for tourism and hospitality businesses.
“The timing couldn’t be better after the successful launch of the Walking On A Dream campaign which has got people talking right around the country.
“As I said at the launch, this is the most competitive tourism market the world has ever seen.
“But we are letting the rest of Australia and the world know that WA is one of the most desirable and special tourism destinations on the planet.”
