Economic Value
The tourism and events sector is vital to the NSW economy contributing billions in revenue and supporting tens of thousands of jobs throughout the state - many of them in regional NSW. Tourism employment now accounts for one in every 21 jobs in NSW.
Our Tourism Tally
Consumption
Total tourism consumption = $28.7 billion
Market share NSW consumption = 31.9%
Jobs
Estimated direct employment =160,300
Estimated indirect employment = 109,950 jobs
Total direct and indirect employment= 267,450 jobs
Business
Number of businesses involved in tourism = 195,600
Accommodation establishments = 2,000
Caravan parks = 500
Visitors
Number of overnight visitors = 26.9 million
Market share visitors = 36.2%
Visitor Nights
Number of visitor nights = 148.6 million
Market share nights = 33%
Expenditure
Total visitor expenditure = $19.7 billion
Market share expenditure = 32.2%
Our Events Tally
There are now more than 90 events on the NSW Event Calendar - all with the potential to generate tourism arrivals and expenditure in destinations throughout the state.
Visitors
Number of bed nights delivered by events visitors = 3 million+
Expenditure
Annual events visitor expenditure =$600 million
Return on Investment
ROI = 1:5 – for every $1 invested in events by the NSW Government $5 is returned to the state in overnight visitor expenditure
Where the Expenditure Goes
Visitors to NSW spend their money on (in order of priority):
Transportation:14% of visitor expenditure is spent on trains, planes and automobiles for long distance transportation.
Shopping: 13% of expenditure is on retail therapy (including gifts and souvenirs)
Accommodation:12% is spent on accommodation services
Fuel: 9% (and rising)
Tourism to Regional Areas
Domestic and international visitors to NSW destinations outside Sydney generated a massive 68.7 million nights of accommodation in regional areas and $11.7 billion in tourist expenditure.
Source: National Visitor Survey and International Visitor Surveys, December 2010Reports
How Tourism Works for Everybody (913kb)
Tourism and the NSW Economy (118kb) from the NSW Tourism Satellite Accounts 2008-09