Brisbane’s visitor spending hits record high as passenger numbers soar at the airport

Credit: Brisbane Airport

Data for the year ending in December 2024, from Tourism Research Australia, has revealed that spending of visitors in Brisbane reached a record of $11.3b, driven by 53.7 million nights in the city.  

“We know that when Brisbane Airport is busy, so are hotels, bars, restaurants and shops, and this has a ripple effect throughout the entire economy, pumping billions of pounds into the pockets of Queenslanders,” said Brisbane Airport CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff.

Boom in bleisure travel

Domestic business travellers have increased 13.5% to 2.1 million, and business visitor nights skyrocketing 30.5% YoY to a record 5.8 million. This has made Brisbane the capital of the country for bleisure, business and leisure, making the sector boom.

“Business travellers are extending their stay beyond meetings and conferences to experience Brisbane’s vibrant cultural scene and also enjoy a getaway to the stunning Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast.”

Strong domestic passenger numbers

Additionally, Brisbane’s popularity with southern states hit new heights, with visitors from Victoria up a record 28.1% YoY to 1.1 million, and tourists from New South Wales up 18.1% YoY to 2 million.

Visitors from other parts of the country reveal its growing popularity, seeing record numbers from Victoria, which is up 28.1% YoY to 1.1 million, and New South Wales, up 18.1% YoY to 2 million.

International appeal and growth

Internationally, the data highlights Brisbane’s growing appeal, with record numbers of visitors from New Zealand and India, as well as 18.2 million visitor nights from Asia. South Korea is leading the way with 2.8 million nights, a 37.2% increase compared to 2019, while Indonesian traveller nights surged by a remarkable 127.5% during the same period.

International visitors were also staying longer in Brisbane, increasing their average length of stay to 22 nights, up by 3.7 nights.

Record-breaking passenger numbers

Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal has recorded its two busiest months on record over December and January. Two-thirds of international tourist arrivals into Queensland are via Brisbane Airport.

In December, more than 631,700 passengers passed through the Brisbane International Terminal, beating the previous record of 620,000 in January 2020.

The record stood for less than a month, with 638,800 passengers travelling through the International Terminal in January 2025.

The city’s growing appeal

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said visitors were captivated by the city’s vibrant lifestyle precincts and tourism offerings.

“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and our booming visitor economy is a win for local jobs and businesses,” Cr Schrinner said.

“With world-class dining, accommodation, and tourism, there is more to see and do in Brisbane than ever before.”

Tourism driving Brisbane’s economy

Brisbane Economic Development Agency CEO Anthony Ryan says tourism is delivering dividends for the city.

“Building on brand Brisbane, BEDA and key partners are elevating the city’s profile by securing global business conferences, major events, and investment opportunities,” Mr Ryan said.

“In a stunning two-year transformation, expanded aviation networks have ignited a tourism boom, shattering records with an unprecedented £11.3 billion in visitor spending and a record-breaking 18.2 million visitor nights from Asia.”

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