NSW is serving up a feast for visitors, with new data confirming the state is Australia’s number one destination for food tourism and attracting billions of dollars in visitor spending.
Tourism Research Australia data shows NSW is the country’s number one destination for domestic overnight and international food tourism visitors.
NSW welcomed 5.1 million domestic overnight food tourism visitors in 2025, who spent $5.6 billion during their trips. The state also led the nation for international food tourism, welcoming 1.2 million international culinary visitors, an increase of 5.7 per cent year-on-year, who spent $6.6 billion in the state, up 21 per cent.
The figures highlight the growing importance of food and drink to the NSW visitor economy, with visitors seeking out experiences that connect them with local produce, passionate producers, restaurants, markets and regional communities.
For domestic visitors, the most popular culinary experiences in NSW in 2025 were fine dining (56 per cent), food markets (43 per cent) and farm tours (seven per cent).
International visitors were similarly hungry for NSW experiences, with local food markets (62 per cent), fine dining (53 per cent) and food festivals (12 per cent) topping the list.
Together, these visitors are injecting more than $12 billion into the NSW economy, supporting local businesses, creating jobs and helping drive visitation across Sydney and regional NSW.
Foodie dollar
The latest results follow Tripadvisor’s Future Foodist report, which identified food as an increasingly important travel motivator, with travellers increasingly 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 traveller’s plan to spend on culinary experiences in 2026, ahead of adventure, culture and wellness.
The Regional Event Fund, delivered by Destination NSW, is drawing visitors to foodie experiences across the state. Events supported in 2026 include Curryfest in Woolgoolga, Savour the Tweed and Pearls & Plates in Broken Bay.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, ‘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.
‘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.’
Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones said, ‘Culinary tourism is one of the most powerful forces shaping travel decisions today. 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.
‘NSW’s world-class dining, immersive farm-to-table opportunities and local produce are serving up exceptional experiences that are driving visitor economy growth across the state.’
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