Monthly snapshot

Domestic tourism September 2022
Tourism Research Australia's (TRA's) monthly snapshots estimate tourism activity in the related month. TRA also produces quarterly and annual summaries.

This report compares the month of September 2022 with the pre-pandemic month of September 2019.

Overnight spend
September 2022
$9.7 billion
Up 33% on September 2019

Overnight trips
September 2022
9.7 million
Down 3% on September 2019

Nights spent on trip
September 2022
35.1 million
Down 5% on September 2019

Key results
September 2022 showed improved domestic travel after a COVID-impacted 2020 and 2021. Overnight spend (up 33%) was up on pre-pandemic levels. However, overnight trips and nights away were slightly down by 3% and 5% respectively.

The increase in spend when compared to September 2019 saw:

• increased average spend per trip (up 36%)
• increased travel for holiday purposes (trips up 12%)
• increased spending across all major expenditure items. The largest increases were on:
  • accommodation
  • takeaways and restaurant meals
  • petrol.

Breakdown of results

In September 2022:

• there were 9.7 million overnight trips. This was down 3% compared to September 2019
• visitors spent 35.1 million nights away. This was down 5% compared to September 2019
• spend was up 33% ($2.4 billion) to $9.7 billion compared to September 2019
• there were strong spend results in all state and territories. The highest increases were in Victoria (up 54% or $761 million, compared to September 2019)
• visitor numbers remained slightly below pre-pandemic levels down 3% when compared to September 2019.
• Travelers were spending more money on average but taking shorter trips. The average spend per trip was up $267 (36%) to $1,006 compared to $739 in September 2019.

COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have impacted September and October 2021. Early data shows domestic overnight trip rates were significantly up. This was for October and the first 3 weeks of November 2022. Trip rates were close to the same rate as pre-pandemic levels.

Purpose of travel

September 2022 saw strong expenditure continue for holiday and visiting friends and relatives. Business expenditure improved greatly, being up on pre-pandemic levels for the first time compared to September 2019. The number of overnight trips for holiday purposes was up. However, visiting friends and relatives and business trip numbers remained down.

In September 2022, Australians:

• spent $5.6 billion while traveling for holiday purposes and took 4.2 million trips. Spend was up 51% compared to September 2019.
• spent $1.6 billion while travelling to visit friends and relatives took 2.8 million trips. Spend was up 23% compared to September 2019.
• spent $2.2 billion while travelling for business purposes and took 2.2 million trips. Spend was up 10% when compared to September 2019.

Business expenditure performed strongly. This was up 10% on pre-COVID September 2019. However, the number of business trips was down 9% compared to September 2019.

Business travel is of particular importance to the visitor economies of Australia's capital cities. It enables value-added events such as conferences, seminars and trade fairs.

Interstate and intrastate visitors and spend

Interstate travel

September 2022 saw strong results for interstate travel continue. Overnight spend was up on pre-pandemic levels. However, overnight trips and nights away were down.

In September 2022, Australians:

• took 3.1 million interstate overnight trips. This was down 13% or 463,000 on the 3.5 million trips recorded in September 2019
• spent $5.5 billion. This was up 23% or $1 billion on September 2019.

The strongest growth in interstate spend compared to 2019 was in:

• Victoria - up $236 million or 32%
• Western Australia - up $220 million or 102%.

Intrastate travel

Intrastate trips performed strongly when compared to September 2019. In September 2022, Australians:

• took 6.6 million intrastate overnight trips. This was higher compared to the number of trips in September 2019 (up 209,000 or 3%)
• spent $4.2 billion on intrastate overnight trips, up $1.4 billion or 48% on September 2019.

Domestic day trips

Australians took 18.6 million day trips and spent $2.6 billion in September 2022.

Compared to a pre-COVID September 2019, this was a:

• 5% decrease in day trips
• 26% increase in spend.