Day-trippers boost the Illawarra and South Coast economy

Data from the state government, indicates that the Illawarra and South Coast saw a decent share of money, spent by ‘day-trippers’ in the year to June 2026.

Travellers keen to leave the city and get away for a few days, spent a total of $16.2 billion, as visitors increasingly opt for shorter, more frequent trips across Sydney and regional NSW, while spending more on each trip.

Day trips are playing an important role in regional economies, particularly destinations within two hours of Sydney, like the Illawarra and the South Coast.