Domestic tourists flocked to Victoria in record numbers last year – boosting Victorians jobs, businesses and tourism operators.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren praised the latest National Visitor Survey results, which shows Victoria outstripped the national rate in interstate overnight visitors and spend.

Victoria welcomed 24.5 million domestic visitors in 2017 – up 11.5 per cent on the previous year – and contributed $13.6 billion to the state, an increase of 11.7 per cent.

Interstate visitors also spent more in regional Victoria, with visitation, spend and nights all posting double-digit growth.

Ten of Victoria’s tourism regions benefitted from last year’s strong growth in domestic overnight visitors, including Gippsland (up 27.9%), Grampians (up 22.7%) and Mornington Peninsula (up 18.2%).

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges (up 16.6%), Great Ocean Road (up 14.7%) and the Murray (up 13.6%) also benefitted.

Melbourne reaped big dividends with expenditure up 9.3 per cent to $7.7 billion in 2017, while 9.3 million visitors toured our laneways and packed our hotels (up 7.2%).

These impressive results prove the Andrews Labor Government’s strategy to lure more visitors and strengthen regional communities is working.

It’s why the Labor Government is working with Visit Victoria to bolster our major events calendar and support local tourism operators.

The Labor Government has already supported more than 100 events across the regions and our major new tourism campaign, A Twist At Every Turn, is driving interstate visitation and backing local jobs and businesses.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren

“These record numbers confirm we are hitting the right notes with interstate tourists, choosing Victoria above the rest.”      

“We’re thrilled to see such strong growth across our regions – because the more visitors we lure, the more jobs we create and businesses we support.”   

Quote attributable to Chief Executive of Visit Victoria Peter Bingeman

“We know that one more night, dining experience or cup of coffee means more visitors, more jobs and more investment in the visitor economy.”