Tourists spending big in Sydney
Sydney is one of the top 20 global destination cities by spend, with tourists expected to spend more than AU$6.4 billion while visiting the city, according to the results of the MasterCard global destination cities index.
For the third consecutive year, London has topped the global list for visitor spending, with the city projected to receive over $20.2 billion from international guests – up 13.4% from 2013.
The home of the world’s most popular royal family also nabbed the top spot for visitor numbers with 18.7 million people expected to visit this year.
Although there are 3.1 million visitors expected to descend on Sydney this year, it missed out on a spot in the top 20 global cities by visitor numbers, which suggests that those who do visit, spend significantly on shopping, restaurants and tourist attractions.
While Sydney may have been out Melbourne for a spot globally, the popular foodie destination placed tenth in the top ten Asia Pacific cities by visitor spend.
Spending in the Victorian capital is also set to rise with Melbourne visitors expected to increase spending by 4.3% this year to a predicted AU$5 billion.
“It’s great to see Sydney and Melbourne holding their own against some of the biggest cities in the world. Additionally, when business visitors and tourists come to our shores, they are maximising the opportunity to boost the local economy by spending on experiences and shopping” said Andrew Cartwright, MasterCard Australia country manager.
With the evolution of payment technology and global payment networks like MasterCard, it is now easier than ever to access money while travelling.
“Whether travelling for work or play, and regardless of where they are, consumers have access to safe and secure payment methods,” Cartwright said.
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