SYDNEY, 25 February 2025: Australians continue embracing international travel, with the latest ATIA Travel Trends report revealing significant growth in outbound travel, particularly to Japan, Indonesia and the US.
The report, which analyses data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Department of Infrastructure, highlights a 16.2% increase in Australian international trips, rising to 11.6 million in December 2024.
Japan recorded an exceptional 56.9% increase, with 798,710 Australians travelling there over the past year. Indonesia remained a favourite, with 1.68 million Australian travellers, marking a 22.7% rise, while the US saw 735,210 Australian visitors, a 10.2% increase.
China leads inbound growth
Inbound travel to Australia also experienced robust growth, with a 15.1% rise in visitors, reaching 8.27 million. China was the fastest-growing market, with a 66.4% increase in visitor numbers, reaching 891,550 arrivals.
New Zealand remains Australia’s largest source market, with 1.39 million visitors, a 9.5% rise. The US and UK also experienced strong growth, up 8.0% and 7.4% respectively.
Most popular travel months by purpose
According to the report, July was the most popular month for Australians travelling on holiday, with 63.1% of outbound travellers citing leisure as their reason for travel.
For those visiting friends and relatives, January saw the highest percentage at 34.8%, reflecting the holiday season’s influence on travel patterns.
Business travel peaked in March, with 8.7% of outbound travellers departing for work-related purposes.
Airline market share — international & domestic
For international travel, Qantas Airways maintained its lead with a 17.3% market share, carrying 597,000 passengers in the year ending November 2024. Jetstar followed with an 11.7% market share, carrying 402,000 passengers, while Singapore Airlines accounted for a 9.8% market share, transporting 337,000 passengers.
Domestically, Melbourne-Sydney remained the busiest route, with 763,228 seats available in November 2024. Brisbane-Sydney recorded a 93% load factor, reflecting strong domestic demand. Perth-Sydney saw a 7.1% increase in available seats, reaching 163,560 seats by year-end.
Commenting on the findings, ATIA CEO Dean Long said: “The latest data confirms that Australians’ appetite for international travel remains strong, with destinations like Japan, Indonesia and the US seeing significant increases.
“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.”
About ATIA (www.atia.travel)
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.
