Almost one in three Australians (28%) plan to head abroad in 2025 with a perennially popular (and close-to-home) destination topping their wish lists for international travel.
According to new Finder research, 15 per cent of Aussies are keen on holidaying in South-East Asia, which encompasses countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The top international destination for Aussies
The survey found South-East Asia has pipped Europe as the most popular international destination for Australians with 13 per cent of travellers planning a trip to the Continent.
It mirrors other findings that showed a similar shift from Europe to South-East Asia as a budget holiday destination this year.
Japan rounds out the top three popular international destinations with 12 per cent of Aussies planning to visit the East-Asian nation in 2025.
The US (7%), UK (6%), China (4%) and India (2%) are also popular with Australian tourists in 2025.
With cost-of-living top of mind among Aussies, the popularity of South-East Asian holidays shows a shift towards destinations that offer more competitive pricing and tighter travel budgets.
The majority of survey respondents (40%) planned to travel domestically this year, due to the costs of international flights and currency exchange, while 32 per cent had no travel planned in 2025.
Recent analysis showed that February and March are the best months for Aussies to secure an international travel deal.
Other recent studies predict that Asia will lead the global tourism recovery in 2025 after years of restricted travel due to the pandemic.
