The Gold Coast has once again cemented its reputation as Queensland’s leading holiday destination.
New data from Tourism Research Australia shows the city welcomed a whopping $5.6 billion in domestic visitor expenditure from 10 million travellers in the nine months to September 2025.
International tourism is also on the rise, with overseas visitor spending climbing to $1.4 billion for the year ending September 2025, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.
A total of 651,000 international travellers chose the Gold Coast, led by New Zealand, which remained the top market with 214,000 visitors.
The United Kingdom also delivered standout growth, with 63,000 visitors generating a record 926,000 visitor nights, up 56 per cent year-on-year.
Asian markets also continue to gain momentum, with Chinese visitation hitting a five-year high of 60,000 visitors and Indian arrivals increasing by 35 per cent to 25,000.
Tourism leaders say major international events and a growing global profile are driving longer stays and repeat visitation to the glitter strip.
“The Gold Coast continues to perform as Queensland’s leading holiday destination because we invest in the experiences, events and nature-based tourism that visitors love,” Mayor Tom Tate said.
“These results show confidence in our city and the strength of our tourism sector as we head into the busiest holiday season of the year”.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn also pointed to a strong international events calendar as a key driver of growth.
“Events like the British and Irish Lions tour don’t just fill stadiums – the latest data shows they drive real visitation outcomes and longer stays from key markets,” Warn said.
“Strong results from the UK, along with growing momentum in India and Asia, highlight the Gold Coast’s appeal as a global sports tourism destination.
“We’re encouraged by this growth and look forward to building on it through our strong events calendar, including TAB Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival, AFC Asian Women’s Cup and Rugby League World Cup which are expected to further strengthen our international visitation story.”
The strong performance comes as the city heads into its busiest time of year, with December accommodation occupancy already sitting at 75 per cent – up 2 per cent on last year.
The city has also been named the nation’s most popular summer holiday destination and a major winner at the 2025 Queensland Tourism Awards, reinforcing its status as Australia’s ultimate playground.
