Canberra’s economic rebound continues, with visitor numbers during the recent school holidays rebounding to pre-COVID years, and Winter in the City delivering a significant economic impact for the City Centre. From 2 to 17 July, hotel occupancy was 87 per cent, slightly higher than the same school holiday period in 2019. ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism Andrew Barr said that Visitors were attracted by a strong winter events calendar in our national attractions with Shakespeare to Winehouse, Connection at the National Museum of Australia, Ceremony at the National Gallery of Australia and Kanga Cup. The Chief Minister added that visitor numbers were also boosted by aviation connections to key markets as well as stop-overs by people going to the Snowy Mountains. Another popular event was Winter in the City, which is estimated to have brought more than $1.4 million in expenditure into the City Centre between 1 to 17 July.




Chief Minister Barr explained that Winter in the City, run by the City Renewal Authority, saw Civic Square transformed, with a range of attractions including an open-air ice rink, exhibitions, pop-up bars, ice sculpting, food vendors and marshmallow roasting over open fires, and a Winter Concert. More than 12,000 ice skating tickets (and as many marshmallows) were sold, with around 25 percent of attendees visiting from interstate. Nearly 1,300 families took to the ice during the festivities. Chief Minister Barr said it’s clear we are seeing strong signs of tourism industry recovery in Canberra. This is being led by leisure travel, with people eager to travel again, visit family and friends, and get back to attending events and visiting attractions.