Australians are travelling at record levels, with outbound and inbound travel experiencing unprecedented growth in 2024.
That’s the encouraging news in the latest Travel Trends Report from the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA).
Using data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Infrastructure, the report shows a significant surge in both outbound and inbound travel for the year ending August 2024.
Australians are embracing international travel more than ever, with major increases to key destinations across the Asia-Pacific region.
Key outbound travel insights:
# Indonesia continues to be the top destination for Australians, with a 30.4% increase in travellers, reaching 1.59 million.
# Japan recorded the highest growth, with a 103.4% rise in Australian visitors, totalling 727,260 for the year.
# Other key destinations include New Zealand (up 10.0% to 1.33 million) and the United States, which saw 728,550 Australian visitors, reflecting a 16.7% increase.
Key inbound travel insights:
# China led the inbound market, with a 135.5% increase in visitors, reaching 844,940 in 2024.
# Growth from New Zealand visitors also remained strong, up 20.2% to 1.38 million, while visitors from Japan surged 64.9% to 373,700.
# Overall, inbound tourism to Australia grew 25.7%, with a total of 8.06 million international visitors in the year ending August 2024.
Australian travel motivations:
# Holidays remain the primary reason for outbound travel, accounting for 60.2% of trips in August 2024.
# Visiting friends and relatives comprised 26.7% of travel, while business travel showed modest growth, representing 5.8% of total trips.
“Australians have a renewed confidence in international travel and they’re eager to explore both near and far-flung destinations,” said Dean Long, ATIA CEO.
“Whether it’s the lure of vibrant cities, natural landscapes or cultural attractions, Australians are travelling more frequently and to a wider range of destinations than we’ve seen in recent years.
“What’s particularly encouraging is the consistency of this growth across almost all international markets. This is not a short-term rebound; it’s a long-term trend that shows Australians are eager to make up for lost time.”
