Increase in Australian Travel to Asia

Increasing numbers of Australians are choosing destinations in Asia, with Japan, China, and Vietnam experiencing the highest growth rates as noted in the Australian Travel Industry Association’s (ATIA) Travel Trends Report for May 2025.

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Infrastructure, there has been a 11.97 million surge in outbound travel to Asia over the last year, a significant increase from the 10.54 million of the previous year.

“Australians are travelling abroad in record numbers, particularly across Asia, with Japan and Indonesia continuing to be standout favourites. Equally encouraging is the rebound in inbound travel, led by China, Japan, and India, markets that are critical for Australia’s tourism economy. These trends highlight the need for a competitive and reliable aviation and travel sector to support continued growth.”

• Dean Long

Popular Destinations

• Japan saw a 38.4% increase in travelers.
• China followed with a 35% rise.
• Vietnam came in third at 26.2%.

Despite the shifts, Bali remains the most popular destination, boasting 1.71 million travelers and an 18% year-on-year increase. January 2025 recorded the highest monthly departures with 1.54 million.

Inbound Tourism

Inbound travel is also recovering, with 8.31 million international visitors arriving in Australia, up from 7.78 million the previous year, led by substantial increases from China and Japan.

This data reinforces the need for ongoing improvements in the aviation and travel industry to sustain this upward trend in Australian tourism.