Australians are travelling overseas in greater numbers than ever – and Asia is clearly top of mind.
The Australian Travel Industry Association’s (ATIA) May 2025 Travel Trends Report reveals international travel by Australians jumped to 11.97 million trips in the year ending March 2025, a sharp rise from 10.54 million the previous year.
Japan took the top spot for growth, up 38.4% year-on-year, with China close behind at 35% growth.
In third place, Vietnam saw a solid 26.2% bump, while Indonesia’s visitation, thanks mostly to Bali-bound travel, rose by 18%.
Overall, Australia’s most visited outbound destination for the 12 months was Indonesia (with 1.71 million travellers).
Elsewhere, inbound numbers are also on the up, with a total of 8.31 million international visitors arriving in Australia for the year ending March 2025, up from 7.78 million the previous year.
China again led growth, with a 25.6% rise (920,700 visitors), followed by Japan (+16.3%) and India (+9.6%).
When it comes to air travel, Jetstar saw the biggest gain in international passenger share, growing from 10.3% to 12.1%, while parent Qantas carried the most international passengers, with 683,000 flyers.
“Australians are travelling abroad in record numbers, particularly across Asia, with Japan and Indonesia continuing to be standout favourites,” ATIA CEO Dean Long said.
“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.”
Leisure leads
When it comes to the reasons why we’re travelling, new Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) data shows that outbound leisure travel continues to boom, with 1.85 million heading overseas for holidays between January and March 2025. This reflects a 15% jump on the same period in 2024 and a 54% rise over 2023 numbers.
According to the CATO data, Southeast Asia came out on top for holidays, attracting nearly 40% of outbound leisure travellers – with Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam remaining firm favourites – while Northeast Asia also bounced back, with Japan, South Korea and Taiwan seeing strong growth.
Among age groups, youth travel (18–35s) led the charge, but retirees also returned in big numbers, with the 71+ demographic up 18%.
CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine said Aussies had become “increasingly confident, adventurous and diverse in their destination choices”.
“We’re seeing growth across every age group and every corner of the globe – from family trips in Southeast Asia to extended stays across Europe and the Americas,” he stated.
“This data reflects the hard work of the travel industry and tour operators in delivering compelling, well-supported itineraries Australians trust.
“As Australians continue to discover the joy of exploring the world, Australian-based tour operators and wholesalers are well-positioned to support them with safety, structure and unforgettable experiences.
“The resilience of the outbound market is clear – and it’s only just getting started.”
