Melbourne closing in on Sydney’s mantle as Australia’s No.1 tourist destination

MELBOURNE is closing in on stealing Sydney’s title as Australia’s No.1 tourist destination as overall domestic visits to Victoria soar.

MORE than 24 million Australian visitors flocked to Victoria last year as the state continues to be a major drawcard.

Visits to the Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula soared by almost a million last financial year, while Melbourne remained a must-see destination for Aussies.

Trips to Victoria increased by almost 8 per cent — higher than the national average — and local visitors spent more than $14 billion.

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While Sydney remains the No.1 tourist destination for Australians with 27.65 million overnight visits, Melbourne is closing in, with visitors spending a total of 27.12 million nights in the city.

New figures from Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey, to be released today, reveal Victoria’s regions are booming.

The Mornington Peninsula is helping draw record numbers of tourists to Victoria.

Visitors from elsewhere in the country spent 4.8 million nights in the Mornington Peninsula — an increase of almost 20 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Australians are choosing to holiday in their own backyard in record numbers, with the ­results showing visitor spending by Australians soared to a record $67.5 billion, an increase of 8 per cent.

The Great Ocean Road continues to be one of Victoria’s greatest tourism drawcards.

In 2017-18, Aussies took a record 100.3 million domestic overnight trips in their own country.

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said this was the first time the number of overnight trips taken by Australians at home had reached the 100 million mark.

“This is an impressive result for our tourism industry with more Aussies holidaying at home and for longer, while also spending record amounts,” he said.

“More Aussies holidaying in our own backyard, teamed with record spending, is a great boost for Australian businesses and helps contribute to a stronger economy.

Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham says Mt Buller is one of the unique tourism experiences Victoria has to offer.

“Whether it be hitting the snowfields at Mt Buller, bushwalking around Wilsons Promontory or the Peninsula Hot Springs, there is no shortage of unique experiences and adventures to be had in Victoria.”

Victoria has also been ­experiencing massive growth in international tourists, with figures last year showing ­almost three million overseas visitors came to Victoria — up 8 per cent on the previous year.

More Australians are turning to nature and the great outdoors for their holidays.

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