Canberra attracted more than two million visitors from interstate in a record-busting year that saw more than $1.5 billion injected into the ACT economy.
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Tourism Research Australia's National Visitor Survey, released on Wednesday, revealed 2,501,000 people visited Canberra in the 12 months to March - an increase of 3 per cent on the previous year.
The growth was driven by a 50.2 per cent increase in holiday-makers staying overnight in the capital. Canberra captured 1,981,000 overnight visitors in the year ending March 2017, compared to 1,319,000 for the year to March 2016.
Key interstate markets included Melbourne, which climbed a massive 73 per cent, regional New South Wales, which saw a a 46.4 per cent increase, and a 21.1 per cent rise in visitors from Sydney.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr welcomed the increase in travellers from Melbourne: "Growth from the Melbourne market is particularly pleasing given recent cooperative marketing undertaken since Tigerair commenced direct daily flights to the capital in December 2016."
The increased visitation from interstate equalled a $1.572 billion injection into the ACT's economy. The ACT government has aimed to grow overnight visitor expenditure to $2.5 billion by 2020.
"The domestic tourism results reflect the ACT government's concerted marketing efforts to attract more visitors," Mr Barr said.
"Through VisitCanberra's ongoing marketing activities and event funding programs using its One Good Thing After Another campaign, the attraction of Canberra as a diverse and exciting short break destination is definitely getting out across the country."
Georgie's Boutique B&B, in Monash, has serviced an increasing number of guests lured to Canberra by its growing reputation as a foodie's destination.
Manager Geoff Clow said Melbourne and Sydney visitors returned time and time again to escape the frantic pace of busy city life.
"There's a good heart and soul to Canberra, there's a genuine-ness," Mr Clow said.
"If Canberra was a person it's not the good-looking person, it's not your person that gets all the attention, but it's your really interesting person, the one you want to go back and talk to a lot more."
The Tourism Research Australia figures complemented similar growth in the international tourism market, which recorded a 7 per cent increase in international visitors and 28 per cent increase in expenditure in the year ending March 2017.
"International tourism figures continue to be boosted by the direct international flight service provided by Singapore Airlines," Mr Barr said.
