Tourism in the Illawarra and on the South Coast is going gangbusters with domestic and international visitors spending a staggering $2 billion in the region last year.
Record numbers of tourists have given operators one of their best years, booking out rooms at unprecedented levels and packing out attractions.
Sea Cliff Bridge, better promotion of the region and poor weather in Queensland have been behind the tourist boom, defying the trend elsewhere as the tighter economy strangles spending.
New research by NSW Tourism shows the Illawarra reaped a $700 million economic windfall in the 12 months to last September.
Combined with a growing South Coast market, tourists spent a total of almost $2 billion in the region.
Despite gloomy summer weather, tourist operators continue to report roaring trade with increases of between 20 and 30 per cent in activity.
Jamberoo Action Park attracted 295,000 people from September to January, while Skydive the Beach is now the largest tandem operator in Australia.
Five Islands Brewery is presently serving fish and chips and beer to 1400 Chinese visitors interested in an Aussie experience during the Chinese New Year holiday season.
Tourism Wollongong chairman Jim Eddy said Wollongong appeared to be the exception as the economy slowed tourism in other areas.
"The atrocious weather in Queensland over the summer seems to have helped keep a lot of Sydney people in NSW instead of travelling to Queensland," Mr Eddy said.
"Also the tighter economy and increased costs of travel may have forced people to economise on their leisure and look at the regions instead of interstate.
Tourist operators are happy with a 32.7 per cent increase in the number of nights international visitors spent in the region, but admit that they face a challenge in encouraging domestic visitors to stay longer.
NSW Tourism Minister Matt Brown said he was confident a doubling in the number of motels in the region over the next six months would help to overcome the problem.
Wollongong general manager Greg Binskin said the investment in quality accommodation should have an impact.
He said visitation had increased steadily since the opening of Sea Cliff Bridge and he expected the region's latest tourist attraction, the Illawarra Fly, to do likewise.
"We are getting more people to stay and we think the length of stay will continue to increase. Our day visitors are through the roof, up 9 per cent, and they are spending more money," Mr Binskin said.
The average day visitor to the Illawarra spent $93 and their combined economic contribution was $2.98 million.
Mr Binskin said the tourist activity gave a clear boost to the region's employment.
"Hospitalit y is a really good opportunity for your people to kickstart a career," he said.
"And the more rooms we have the more it helps our market grow."