Report finds central Melbourne economy boosted by 12.4 million visitors to the city last year

INNER Melbourne’s economy has taken off thanks to more than 12 million local and international visitors last year. Tourists from one country in particular really love visiting our city.

A SURGE of visitors from China contributed to a $14 billion spend in central Melbourne by people coming to city last year.

A Melbourne City Council report has found that the municipality welcomed 12.4 million visitors in 2016-17, up about 10 per cent on the previous year.

Shoppers outside the Melbourne Myer store. Aaron Francis/The Australian

There were 5.7 million domestic day trip visitors, 4.9 million domestic overnight arrivals and 1.8 million international overnight visitors.

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This included 436,000 people from China, who spent an estimated $2.6 billion in Victoria based on an average $146 daily spend, said the Melbourne Retail and Hospitality Strategy 2013-17 report released today.

It revealed that the inner city had almost 3000 cafes, restaurants and bars, and 2153 shops which generated $11.2 billion for the economy.

Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood with his family.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said the city’s retail and hospitality industries employed 66,664 people and the retail vacancy rate of 2.7 per cent was below the historic average.

“Melbourne is an increasingly popular visitor destination which means more customers for our retail and hospitality businesses,” he said.

“The City of Melbourne employs a range of strategies and policies to stimulate growth in our retail and hospitality industries including event sponsorship, business grants, marketing campaigns and precinct support funding.”

Melbourne’s retail and hospitality sectors are taking off.

Last year, city council events included Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out, Melbourne Knowledge Week, and Melbourne International Film Festival.

The report said that the municipality had 455,800 workers and attracted 928,000 visitors on an average weekday.

During Christmas 2016 59 per cent of people spent more than $100 during their trip compared with 41 per cent in 2015.

An estimated 95 per cent of international overnight visitors to Victoria went to Melbourne, with most from China, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.

The number of international retailers grew to 137, more than double the number five years ago.

On Friday, the CBD will host the 12-hour Shop the City event involving Melbourne Central, Emporium Melbourne, QV Melbourne, The Strand Melbourne and Melbourne GPO.

The retailers will celebrate National Marshmallow Day.

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