On 19 October 2026, the New South Wales Government released new data on culinary tourism. In 2025, this Australian state welcomed 5.1 million domestic overnight visitors taking part in culinary activities, accounting for AUD 5.6 billion in spending. It also received 1.2 million international visitors in this category, accounting for AUD 6.6 billion. These amounts cover these visitors' travel spending, not just their meals. Source: New South Wales Government, 19 October 2026.
This publication encourages accommodation providers to consider the stay as a whole. A restaurant, a market or an encounter with a producer may inspire a trip. The accommodation remains the place where guests arrive, rest and prepare for the following day.
Connect local advice with an available welcome team
A useful recommendation can be very simple: a market open on the right day, somewhere within walking distance or a visit to book in advance. Its value depends on its accuracy. A long list copied into a guide once becomes less useful if opening hours or access conditions change.
Choose a few suggestions you can keep up to date. Explain who they may suit, how to get there and where to check the information. When an outside provider is involved, make it clear who takes the booking and who can answer questions.
For a property management service, this attention takes time. When cleaning information is scattered, that time may be spent chasing updates. StayClean's visit tracking helps establish the state of preparation, so the guest reception team can organise its work with greater clarity. Discover StayClean.
Check the amenities actually advertised
Not all travellers interested in food will cook in their rental. Some will spend most of their time eating out. Others will enjoy bringing back a few products from the market. What matters is that the promised amenities are clean, present and usable.
If the listing mentions an equipped kitchen, check the crockery, utensils and appliances offered. A clean fridge, a clear worktop and a table ready to use contribute to everyday comfort. It is better to describe the available equipment precisely than to leave guests guessing what a general phrase includes.
This check should form part of the preparation instructions. Any faults or missing items should be reported to the manager so they can decide what to do before arrival.
Give instructions tailored to the property
Good preparation does not mean adding the same tasks everywhere. A studio with a kitchenette and a house accommodating several people have different needs. Define what needs cleaning, putting back in place and checking for each property.
With StayClean, you schedule the required cleaning and consult the tracking information and visit reports. These provide evidence to review the preparation and identify points requiring further attention. For the reception team, having this information avoids treating a property as ready simply because a cleaning visit appears in the schedule.
A suggested outing remains enjoyable when the basics of the stay are in place: clear access instructions, prepared beds, a clean bathroom and amenities matching the listing.
Think about the stay right through to the evening return
Imagine travellers who have booked a food tour for late in the day. Before leaving, they may need advice about the route or their return time. When they arrive back at the accommodation, they want a comfortable space and the advertised services.
For the manager, these two aspects complement each other. Local advice adds depth to the stay; preparing the accommodation creates the right conditions to enjoy the experience. StayClean supports the latter aspect, through cleaning scheduling and tracking.
A six-point check
-
A few relevant, up-to-date local recommendations.
-
Opening hours and booking conditions that can be verified.
-
An accurate description of the property's amenities.
-
Cleaning instructions tailored to each property.
-
Clear reporting of missing or faulty items.
-
A review of visit reports before arrival.
The new Australian data shows the significance of stays linked to culinary experiences. For accommodation providers, the lesson is practical: attention to the destination and attention to the accommodation should go hand in hand. StayClean supports managers in maintaining this continuity.
Sources
-
New South Wales Government, “NSW dishes up Australia's biggest culinary tourism economy”, press release dated 19 October 2026 presenting new Tourism Research Australia data for 2025: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dciths/ministerial-media-releases/nsw-dishes-up-australias-biggest-culinary-tourism-economy
-
StayClean, overview of visit tracking and reports, accessed on 19 October 2026: https://www.stayclean.io/
