According to a recent survey conducted by Flight Centre two cities are now stealing the spotlight from Australia’s traditional favorite Perth and Brisbane named best cities in the world to visit. When most tourists think of Australia Sydney and Melbourne usually come to mind first. However that perception is changing.
Based on feedback from over 170,000 customers worldwide, the survey revealed that global travelers ranked Perth and Brisbane as the best cities in the world to visit. In contrast, Melbourne came in at 8th place, and Sydney ranked 15th. This shift in preference highlights the growing appeal of Australia’s often overlooked destinations.
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Destination Preferences By Market
Global traveller preferences
| Australian traveller preferences
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South African traveller preferences
| New Zealand traveller preferences
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Canadian traveller preferences
| UK traveller preferences
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*Results are based on global Flight Centre customer survey responses from FY24 spanning Flight Centre’s five markets; Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, and The UK. Total sample size is >170k, destination must have >=500 responses to be listed.
Perth topped the list with an impressive satisfaction rating of 96%, closely followed by Brisbane at 94%. Both cities outperformed many iconic global destinations, including Paris, New York, and Tokyo. Queenstown, located on New Zealand’s South Island, also shared a 94% rating, further emphasizing the allure of the Oceania region.
The survey also showed that Australia ranks among the top three most loved countries, boasting a 92% satisfaction rating. This puts it just behind the Cook Islands at 93% and Portugal at 94%, reinforcing Australia’s strong appeal as a tourist destination.
Flight Centre’s global managing director, Andrew Stark, pointed out that these results prove it’s not always the classic tourist spots that offer the most memorable experiences.
“While Sydney and Melbourne may be the go-to choices for many, it’s Brisbane and Perth that left the best impressions,” Stark said.
Despite Sydney and Melbourne still being popular, with satisfaction ratings of 89% and 91% respectively, they didn’t quite match up to Perth and Brisbane. Even some of the world’s most renowned cities couldn’t compete. Perth, with its 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, stands as Australia’s sunniest capital, which may contribute to its growing popularity.
Western Australia’s acting managing director of Tourism, Steph Underwood, expressed pride in Perth’s achievement. She emphasized the city’s unique blend of vibrant urban life, stunning beaches, and awe-inspiring natural landscapes as key factors that make Perth a top destination for international visitors.
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“Western Australia offers an unmatched experience, and we’re thrilled that Perth has been recognized as the best city in the world to visit,” Underwood said. “We look forward to welcoming both repeat visitors and newcomers to discover all that our state has to offer.”
As Australia continues to attract global travelers, it’s clear that Perth and Brisbane are rising stars on the world stage. With their high satisfaction ratings and growing recognition, these cities are proving that there’s much more to Australia than just Sydney and Melbourne.
