New South Wales has the largest tourism industry in Australia, making up 35% of all tourism-related activities in Australia in 2003-04. Tourism encompasses a wide range of industries, including accommodation, transport and travel agencies, and reaches retail, education, food manufacturing and recreational and cultural services.
Tourism is an important industry in the State, contributing $12.2 billion or 4.2% of gross state product in 2003-04. In the same year, tourism made up $7.1 billion or 18.4% of New South Wales total exports of goods and services, which represented 36.1% of international tourist consumption in Australia. The largest tourism-related industries in value terms were transport, retail trade, accommodation and restaurants.
New South Wales has the largest national share of almost all tourism related industries. The State is particularly dominant in transport services, education, food and transport equipment manufacturing, while also leading the national share of libraries, museums, arts and other entertainment services.
International and domestic visitors enjoy a wide range of attractions and services in the State. In the latest Qantas Australia Tourism Awards for 2007, New South Wales attractions were awarded top place in the categories of Major Tourist Attraction, Ecotourism, Indigenous Tourism, Adventure and Tourism Wineries.