NSW is serving up a feast for visitors, with new figures showing it is Australia’s number one destination for food tourism and is bringing in billions of dollars in visitor spending.
Tourism Research Australia data shows NSW leads the country for both domestic overnight and international food tourism visitors.
The state welcomed 5.1 million domestic overnight food tourism visitors in 2025, and they spent $5.6 billion during their trips. NSW also led the nation for international food tourism, with 1.2 million culinary visitors, up 5.7 per cent on the year before. They spent $6.6 billion in the state, up 21 per cent.
Together, these visitors are injecting more than $12 billion into the NSW economy, supporting local businesses and creating jobs across Sydney and regional NSW.
The figures show how important food and drink have become to the visitor economy. Visitors are seeking out local produce, passionate producers, restaurants, markets, and regional communities.
For domestic visitors, the most popular culinary experiences in 2025 were fine dining (56 per cent), food markets (43 per cent), and farm tours (seven per cent).
International visitors favoured local food markets (62 per cent), fine dining (53 per cent), and food festivals (12 per cent).
“NSW is the place to come if you want to eat well, and these numbers show visitors from Australia and around the world are hungry for what we have on offer,” said Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper.
“This is exactly the kind of visitor economy growth we want to see under the Minns Labor Government, bringing more visitors through the doors of local businesses, creating jobs and making sure communities right across NSW share in the benefits of tourism.”
The results follow Tripadvisor’s Future Foodist report, which found food is an increasingly important reason to travel. Travellers are building holidays around culinary experiences rather than simply eating while they are away.
Skift Research’s State of Travel 2026 report also found 71 per cent of travellers plan to spend on culinary experiences in 2026, ahead of adventure, culture, and wellness.
The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 sets a target of $91 billion in annual visitor spending by 2035. It focuses on compelling experiences, major events, and growing visitation across metropolitan and regional NSW.
“We have set an ambitious target of $91 billion in annual visitor expenditure by 2035, and food tourism is a huge part of how we will get there,” Mr Kamper said.
Destination NSW supports a culinary events calendar each year. Highlights include Vivid Sydney’s Food pillar, NSW Wine Month, and the Australian Native Food Festival.
The Regional Event Fund, delivered by Destination NSW, is also drawing visitors to food events across the state. Events supported in 2026 include Curryfest in Woolgoolga, Savour the Tweed, and Pearls & Plates in Broken Bay.
“Culinary tourism is one of the most powerful forces shaping travel decisions today,” said Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones.
“Visitors are hungry for more than a good meal, they’re seeking authenticity. They want to eat where the locals eat, discover regional specialties and participate in cultural storytelling through cuisine.”
“Destination NSW is supporting businesses with the training and exposure they need to ensure our state remains Australia’s number one destination for foodie experiences.”
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