New Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows the destination with the highest number of visitor arrivals for short-term trips in October 2025 was NSW (284,370).
The top three international source markets for visitors to NSW during the period were New Zealand (40,970), China (37,160) and the United States (30,160).
South Korean visitation to NSW surged to 28,420 visits in October 2025, up from 12,050 in October 2019.
Indian visitation to NSW also exceeded pre-pandemic levels, rising from 9000 in October 2019 to 10,050 in October 2025.
In total, Australia welcomed 740,650 short-term visitor arrivals in October 2025, an increase of 9.3 per cent on one year earlier.
The number of trips was just 4.3 per cent lower than pre-pandemic levels in October 2019.
New Zealand was the largest source country for Australia, accounting for 19 per cent of all visitor arrivals.
The three leading source countries for Australia were: New Zealand (140,970 trips), China (78,170) and the United Kingdom (59,700).
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ABS also reported that accommodation and food spending rose 0.2 per cent during the September quarter 2025 and 3.6 per cent over the year.
Football finals, sporting tours and a bumper snow season drove high hotel occupancy rates.
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