Overnight spend
$11.0 billion | Up 42% on October 2019
Overnight trips
10.0 million | Down 2% on October 2019
Nights spend on trip
36.6 million | Up 1% on October 2019
Key results
October 2022 saw strong improvement for domestic travel after a COVID-impacted 2020 and 2021. Overnight spend and nights were up 42% and 1% respectively on pre-pandemic levels. However, overnight trips were slightly down by 2%.
The increase in spend when compared to October 2019 saw:
- increased average spend per trip (up 45%)
- increased travel for holiday purposes (trips up 8%)
- increased spending across all major expenditure items. The largest increases were on:
- accommodation (up 66%)
- food and drink (up 37%)
- domestic airfares (up 29%).
Breakdown of results
In October 2022:
- there were 10.0 million overnight trips. This was down 2% compared to October 2019
- visitors spent 36.6 million nights away. This was up 1% compared to October 2019
- spend was up 42% ($3.3 billion) to $11.0 billion compared to October 2019
- there were strong spend results in all states and territories. The highest increase was in Queensland (up 43% or $955 million, compared to October 2019)
- Travelers were spending more money on average and taking longer trips. The average spend per trip was up $344 (45%) to $1,108 compared to $764 in October 2019.
COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have impacted October and November 2021. Early data shows domestic overnight trip rates were significantly up. This was for November and the first 2 weeks of December 2022. Trip rates were close to the same rate as pre-pandemic levels.
The December 2022 trip rate shows 27% of NVS respondents interviewed in weeks 1 and 2, took one or more overnight trips. This was for the preceding 28 days (the reference period). The return date was in November for some of these trips.
The trip estimate of 10.0 million for October refers to overnight trips returned from in that month.
Capital city and regional visitors and spend
Capital cities
October 2022 saw visitors continue to return to Australia’s capital cities, recording the highest number of visitors and spend since the start of the pandemic (March 2020). However, the number of visitors remained below when compared a pre-COVID October 2019.
In October 2022, Australians:
- spent $5.3 billion
- took 4.1 million trips to capital cities.
Compared to a pre-COVID October 2019, this was a:
- 36% increase in spend
- 10% decrease in overnight trips.
Regional areas
Regional areas continued to perform well in October 2022. Overnight trips and spend were both up on pre-pandemic levels.
In October 2022, Australians:
- spent $5.7 billion
- took 6.3 million trips to regional areas.
Compared to a pre-COVID October 2019, this was a:
- 48% increase in spend
- 4% increase in overnight trips.
Interstate and intrastate visitors and spend
Interstate travel
October 2022 performed strongly for interstate travel. Overnight spend was up on pre-pandemic levels. However, overnight trips and nights away were down.
In October 2022, Australians:
- took 3.2 million interstate overnight trips. This was down 14% or 516,000 on the 3.7 million trips recorded in October 2019
- spent $5.3 billion. This was up 36% or $1.4 billion on October 2019.
The strongest growth in interstate spend compared to 2019 was in:
- Queensland – up $495 million or 45%
- Tasmania – up $211 million or 162%.
Intrastate travel
Intrastate trips saw continued strong results when compared to October 2019. In October 2022, Australians:
- took 7.0 million intrastate overnight trips. This was higher compared to the number of trips in October 2019 (up 361,000 or 5%)
- spent $5.7 billion on intrastate overnight trips, up $1.9 billion or 49% on October 2019.
Domestic day trips
Australians took 18.4 million day trips and spent $2.7 billion in October 2022.
Compared to a pre-COVID October 2019, this was a:
- 24% increase in spend
- 6% decrease in day trips.