Latest News

Asia Booms as Aussies Flock to Japan, China and Vietnam in Record Numbers

Increasing numbers of Australians are turning to Asia for travel, with Japan, China, and Vietnam seeing the strongest growth as international destinations, according to the Australian Travel Industry Association’s (ATIA) May 2025 Travel Trends Report.
 
The report, drawing from ABS and Department of Infrastructure data, shows international travel by Australians surged to 11.97 million trips for the year ending March 2025, up from 10.54 million the year prior. Japan led the way with a 38.4% year-on-year increase, followed by China (+35.0%) and Vietnam (+26.2%), underscoring a clear pivot toward the Asia-Pacific region.
 
Indonesia (predominantly Bali) remained the most visited outbound destination for Australians, with 1.71 million travellers, an 18% increase year-on-year. January 2025 recorded the highest monthly departures (1.54 million), while April posted the strongest year-on-year growth (+28.5%), driven by school holidays and the Easter break.
 
Inbound travel also continued its recovery, with 8.31 million international visitors arriving in Australia for the year ending March 2025, up from 7.78 million the previous year. China led the growth with a 25.6% increase, reaching 920,700 visitors, followed by Japan (+16.3%) and India (+9.6%). New Zealand maintained its position as Australia’s top source market with 1.37 million visitors.
 
On the domestic front, Melbourne-Sydney remained Australia’s busiest air route in February 2025, with over 700,000 seats despite a 11.9% reduction in capacity. Load factors improved, indicating more efficient use of available seats. Similarly, the Gold Coast–Sydney route experienced a 16.2% cut in capacity but saw load factors rise to 92%.
 
From an aviation perspective, Jetstar achieved the largest growth in international passenger numbers, increasing its market share from 10.3% to 12.1%. Qantas remained the leading carrier, with 683,000 international passengers, despite a slight dip in market share.
 
Holiday travel continues to be the dominant reason for outbound trips, especially during spring months, while visits to friends and relatives peaked post-holiday season in January and February.
 
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATIA CEO DEAN LONG:
“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.”

“We continue to urge Australians to book with ATIA Accredited travel businesses to ensure confidence, security, and expert service.”