The Gold Coast has set a new record for international visitor expenditure, welcoming $1.5 billion from 636,000 visitors for the year ending June 2025, according to new tourism research.
International tourists are also staying longer and spending more than ever before, Tourism Research Australia’s latest data release reveals. The average length of stay for international visitors has risen to 14.5 nights, an increase of two nights over the past 12 months, while average expenditure per visitor has risen by 30% to $2341 per trip.
Growth in the European market has outpaced Asian markets with visitors willing to travel further to holiday on the Gold Coast. Visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom rose to 61,000, setting a new record of 862,000 total UK visitor nights, a 51% increase from the previous year.
Visitation from Scandinavia surged an impressive 88% and Germany also delivered steady gains, with a 12% uplift in travelers compared to the year ending June 2024. New Zealand continues to be the Gold Coast’s largest international source market, holding steady at 217,000 visitors.
“International visitors are spending record amounts on enjoying the best the Gold Coast has to offer, and it’s fantastic to see surging interest from long haul markets like Europe, and continued strength from key markets like New Zealand,” said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
“It’s a real vote of confidence in our city’s reputation as a global destination that attracts people from across the world to experience our nature, events, and culture.”
Domestically, the Gold Coast has once again retained its spot as Queensland’s biggest holiday market. A total of 2.4 million domestic overnight visitors spent a whopping $3.1 billion in the 6 months from January to June, equating to a third of Queensland's total holiday market value.
Sydneysiders have reaffirmed their love for the Gold Coast, with 342,000 visitors injecting $608 million into the local economy in just the first six months of the year. In the same period the Gold Coast welcomed 793,000 Brisbane visitors and 265,000 Melbourne visitors, spending $598.1 million and $560.7 million respectively.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said the results showed positive signs for the Gold Coast as it heads into its busiest period of the year.
“We know that in the year ending December 2024, the Gold Coast celebrated a total domestic expenditure of $6.9 billion. To see us achieve $3.7 billion domestically in the first half of this year alone is a great result for the Gold Coast,” Mr Warn said.
“This puts our visitor economy in a fantastic position as we head into the tail end of the year which is always a busy period for the Gold Coast holiday market with a packed calendar of events including the Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast 500, a T20 international match, Coolangatta Gold, Spilt Milk, Magic Millions and more.”
In addition to record international expenditure, the Gold Coast’s international business market has seen significant growth. In the year ending June 2025, the Gold Coast welcomed 27,000 international business visitors for a total of 216,000 international business nights – a 44% year-on-year increase.
DOMESTIC HIGHLIGHTS (January – June 2025)
• 6.5 million domestic visitors (2.4 million overnight, 4.1 million day trips)
• $3.7 billion domestic visitor expenditure ($3.1 billion overnight, $634 million day trip)
• Queensland’s largest domestic overnight holiday market
• Gold Coast - average overnight visitor expenditure $1,268 total and $387/night
• Queensland - average overnight visitor expenditure $990 total and $277/night
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS (year ending June 2025)
• Record-breaking $1.5 billion international expenditure
• 14.5-night average length of stay (increase of 2 nights YoY)
• $2341 average expenditure per visitor (30% YoY increase)
• 217,000 New Zealand visitors
• 54,000 Chinese visitors (12.6% YoY increase)
• 27,000 Indian visitors (44% YoY increase)
• Record-breaking 862,000 UK visitor nights (61,000 visitors)
• 27,000 international business visitors (15% YoY increase)
• 216,000 international business nights (44% YoY increase)
CONTACTS
Kesha West | 0432 862 727 | kesha.west@experiencegoldcoast.com
Hannah Matchett| 0466 631 416 | hannah.matchett@xperiencegoldcoast.com
International tourists are also staying longer and spending more than ever before, Tourism Research Australia’s latest data release reveals. The average length of stay for international visitors has risen to 14.5 nights, an increase of two nights over the past 12 months, while average expenditure per visitor has risen by 30% to $2341 per trip.
Growth in the European market has outpaced Asian markets with visitors willing to travel further to holiday on the Gold Coast. Visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom rose to 61,000, setting a new record of 862,000 total UK visitor nights, a 51% increase from the previous year.
Visitation from Scandinavia surged an impressive 88% and Germany also delivered steady gains, with a 12% uplift in travelers compared to the year ending June 2024. New Zealand continues to be the Gold Coast’s largest international source market, holding steady at 217,000 visitors.
“International visitors are spending record amounts on enjoying the best the Gold Coast has to offer, and it’s fantastic to see surging interest from long haul markets like Europe, and continued strength from key markets like New Zealand,” said Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
“It’s a real vote of confidence in our city’s reputation as a global destination that attracts people from across the world to experience our nature, events, and culture.”
Domestically, the Gold Coast has once again retained its spot as Queensland’s biggest holiday market. A total of 2.4 million domestic overnight visitors spent a whopping $3.1 billion in the 6 months from January to June, equating to a third of Queensland's total holiday market value.
Sydneysiders have reaffirmed their love for the Gold Coast, with 342,000 visitors injecting $608 million into the local economy in just the first six months of the year. In the same period the Gold Coast welcomed 793,000 Brisbane visitors and 265,000 Melbourne visitors, spending $598.1 million and $560.7 million respectively.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said the results showed positive signs for the Gold Coast as it heads into its busiest period of the year.
“We know that in the year ending December 2024, the Gold Coast celebrated a total domestic expenditure of $6.9 billion. To see us achieve $3.7 billion domestically in the first half of this year alone is a great result for the Gold Coast,” Mr Warn said.
“This puts our visitor economy in a fantastic position as we head into the tail end of the year which is always a busy period for the Gold Coast holiday market with a packed calendar of events including the Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast 500, a T20 international match, Coolangatta Gold, Spilt Milk, Magic Millions and more.”
In addition to record international expenditure, the Gold Coast’s international business market has seen significant growth. In the year ending June 2025, the Gold Coast welcomed 27,000 international business visitors for a total of 216,000 international business nights – a 44% year-on-year increase.
DOMESTIC HIGHLIGHTS (January – June 2025)
• 6.5 million domestic visitors (2.4 million overnight, 4.1 million day trips)
• $3.7 billion domestic visitor expenditure ($3.1 billion overnight, $634 million day trip)
• Queensland’s largest domestic overnight holiday market
• Gold Coast - average overnight visitor expenditure $1,268 total and $387/night
• Queensland - average overnight visitor expenditure $990 total and $277/night
INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS (year ending June 2025)
• Record-breaking $1.5 billion international expenditure
• 14.5-night average length of stay (increase of 2 nights YoY)
• $2341 average expenditure per visitor (30% YoY increase)
• 217,000 New Zealand visitors
• 54,000 Chinese visitors (12.6% YoY increase)
• 27,000 Indian visitors (44% YoY increase)
• Record-breaking 862,000 UK visitor nights (61,000 visitors)
• 27,000 international business visitors (15% YoY increase)
• 216,000 international business nights (44% YoY increase)
CONTACTS
Kesha West | 0432 862 727 | kesha.west@experiencegoldcoast.com
Hannah Matchett| 0466 631 416 | hannah.matchett@xperiencegoldcoast.com
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.