Australians are travelling internationally in droves, with a 16.2% increase in outbound trips, reaching 11.6 million in the year ending December 2024, according to fresh data.
Crunching Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) numbers, the latest ATIA Travel Trends report reveals where and when Aussies are travelling. Japan is a clear winner, seeing a massive 56.9% increase in Australian visitors (798,710 total).
Elsewhere, Indonesia remains a firm favourite, attracting 1.68 million Aussies (up 22.7%), while the US also saw a healthy 10.2% rise, with 735,210 visitors.
When it comes to when we’re travelling, data shows July is the peak month for leisure travel (63.1% of outbound travellers). January sees the highest percentage of friend and relative visits (34.8%), while business travel peaks in March (8.7%). However, travellers looking to stretch their budget should book in February and March, a new analysis has revealed.
And how are we getting where we need to go? Qantas leads the international airline market share (17.3%), followed by Jetstar (11.7%) and Singapore Airlines (9.8%).
Domestically, Melbourne-Sydney remains the busiest route. Brisbane-Sydney boasts a high load factor (93%), and Perth-Sydney saw a 7.1% increase in available seats.
Australia’s tourism sector, meanwhile, is also thriving, with inbound travel up 15.1% to 8.27 million visitors. China leads growth, with arrivals up 66.4% to 891,550. New Zealand remains the top source market (1.39 million visitors, up 9.5%), followed by strong growth from the US and UK.
“The latest data confirms that Australians’ appetite for international travel remains strong, with destinations like Japan, Indonesia and the US seeing significant increases,” ATIA CEO Dean Long said.
“At the same time, inbound travel continues to strengthen, with China’s remarkable growth standing out. These figures underscore the resilience and vitality of our travel and tourism industry.
“As always, we encourage travellers to book with an ATIA Accredited business to ensure a seamless and professional travel experience.”
Want to know the surprising Asian destination that’s trending with Aussie budget travellers in 2025? Read about it here.
