Domestic tourism in June 2021
COVID-19 continues to affect Australia’s domestic tourism market. June 2021 saw a decline in results after months of gradual recovery in domestic travel. This was due to a worsening COVID-19 situation, with widespread lockdowns and border restrictions reintroduced across the country.
In June 2021:
- Overnight spend was down 18% or $1.1 billion on June 2019.
- News South Wales (NSW) and Victoria were most heavily impacted. Results for the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania were also impacted.
- Intrastate overnight trips were down 30% on June 2019. Spend was down 9% ($251 million) to $2.6 billion.
- Interstate travel was more affected than intrastate travel. This was due to border closures. Overnight trips were down 50% on June 2019. Spend was down 26% ($842 million) to $2.4 billion.
- Results for July and August are expected to decline further. This was due to the COVID-19 outbreak continuing to worsen in NSW and spreading to other states and territories.
Overnight trips and spend
In June 2021, Australians:
- took 6.3 million overnight trips
- stayed 24.0 million nights
- spent $5.0 billion.
Compared to pre-COVID June 2019, this was a:
- 36% fall in overnight trips
- 23% fall in nights stayed
- 18% fall in spend.
Domestic day trips
Australians took 11.6 million day trips and spent $1.2 billion in June 2021.
Compared to pre-COVID June 2019, this was a:
- 15% fall in day trips
- 12% fall in spend.
Hover over the bars of the relevant state or territory to show total figures.
Hover on the line over the relevant month to show total figures.
Hover on the line over the relevant month to show total figures.
The trip rate for August 2021 tells us 11.9% of NVS respondents interviewed in weeks 1, 2 and 3 reported taking one or more overnight trips in the preceding 28 days (the reference period). The return date will have been in July for some of these trips.
The trip estimate of 6.3 million for the month of June refers to overnight trips returned from in that month.
Regional and capital city visitors and spend
Regional areas continue to fare better than capital cities.
Capital cities
In June 2021, Australians:
- took 2.2 million overnight trips to capital cities
- spent $2.1 billion.
Compared to pre-COVID June 2019, this was a:
- 46% fall in overnight trips
- 32% fall in spend.
Regional areas
In contrast, Australians:
- took 4.3 million overnight trips to regional areas
- spent $2.9 billion.
Compared to pre-COVID June 2019, this was a:
- 28% fall in overnight trips
- 4% fall in spend.
National Visitor Survey results monthly data tables
NVS results monthly data tables
Monthly data for overnight and day travel by state and territory
https://www.tra.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/185/NationalVisitorSurvey(NVS)MonthlyDomesticOvernightVisitationJune2021.xlsx.aspx
Monthly data for overnight and day travel by state and territory as compared to June 2019
https://www.tra.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/185/NationalVisitorSurvey(NVS)MonthlyDomesticOvernightVisitationJune2021_2019comparison.xlsx.aspx
Contact us
Email tourism.research@tra.gov.au