Why Australian Travellers Are Choosing Japan, China, Vietnam And Indonesia Over The Us

Published on August 17, 2025

The latest merchandise from nan Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates a important alteration successful Australian outbound recreation patterns. For nan 2024–25 financial year, nan information corroborate that travellers from Australia progressively favour Asian destinations comparative to much distant markets. Notable maturation was observed successful trips to Japan, China, and Vietnam; conversely, nan United States is receiving a reduced stock of Australian travellers compared to nan volumes recorded anterior to nan pandemic.

In 2024–25, Japan reportedly emerged arsenic nan 3rd astir frequented overseas destination for Australian travellers, attracting astir 910,000 arrivals. This fig constitutes an summation of almost 88 per cent compared pinch nan 484,000 visits recorded successful 2018–19 and surpasses erstwhile visitant volumes. As a consequence of this swift growth, Japan has displaced nan United States, which had occupied a higher rank successful nan Australian travellers’ penchant hierarchy.

Indonesia retained its lead pinch 1.7 cardinal arrivals, while New Zealand consistently occupied 2nd position. The accompanying description wrong proximate Asian markets underscored that some value sensitivity and accessibility were superior determinants of traveller preference.

Why Japan Has Become So Popular

The surge successful recreation to Japan was powerfully linked to rate changes. At respective points successful 2024, nan Australian dollar had been weighted supra 100 yen, a complaint not knowledgeable since 2014. That displacement was making Japan much affordable than it had been successful nan past decade.

Cultural entreaty had besides played a role. Japan had ever been a favourite among Australian travellers for its operation of tradition, food, exertion and earthy scenery. With nan little costs, those experiences became much accessible to families, students and young travellers.

The emergence of Japan was not surprising. It was being noted that erstwhile affordability improves successful a state that is already precocious connected recreation wish lists, a accelerated summation successful visits usually follows.

Growth successful China and Vietnam

China became nan 5th astir celebrated destination for Australians successful 2024–25. The emergence was explained partially by beardown organization connections, arsenic galore Australians were visiting family members successful China. Another facet was nan visa-free recreation statement introduced recently, which removed 1 of nan barriers to entry.

Vietnam was besides signaling accelerated growth. Its coastline, nutrient civilization and affordability were being recognised by much Australians. Travel manufacture observers pointed retired that Vietnam was now connected way to go 1 of nan apical destinations for Australian leisure travel.

The operation of debased costs, elemental visa processes and favourable speech rates was helping Vietnam go a beardown competitor to longer-haul recreation options.

The Decline successful US Travel

The United States was reported to person drawn less than 750,000 Australian residents successful 2024–25. That number represented a mini betterment connected nan erstwhile year, but it was good beneath nan almost 1.1 cardinal visits successful 2018–19.

Several reasons were identified for this fall. High accommodation prices were discouraging longer stays. Entry procedures and governmental ambiance were besides seen arsenic antagonistic factors. While immoderate Australians continued to recreation to nan US for leisure aliases business, nan level of enthusiasm was little than before.

Even though circumstantial incidents astatine separator power had not been shown to summation sharply, nan wide cognition of trouble was discouraging to immoderate travellers. The driblet successful convention and arena recreation was besides being noticed, pinch business visits recovering much slow than leisure visits.

Why Costs Matter More Now

It was being observed that travellers were paying adjacent attraction to costs. Rising liking rates, higher airfares and weaker family budgets were shaping decisions. In this context, destinations specified arsenic Indonesia, Vietnam and Japan were being preferred because full travel costs had stayed wrong reach.

In contrast, destinations for illustration nan United States and parts of Europe had go much expensive. Travellers were reducing nan magnitude of stays successful these places aliases avoiding them entirely. The prime was not only astir summons prices but besides astir edifice rates, food, and regular expenses.

Indonesia Stays connected Top

Indonesia, particularly Bali, remained nan astir celebrated world destination for Australians. With short formation times, affordable packages and acquainted surroundings, it was drafting repetition visitors arsenic good arsenic first-timers.

The ABS confirmed that astir 1.7 cardinal Australians visited Indonesia successful 2024–25, a number overmuch higher than immoderate different azygous destination. That position was expected to stay unchanged successful nan adjacent year.

Looking Ahead

The coming 12 months were expected to proceed nan aforesaid trends. Indonesia was apt to support its lead, while Japan, Vietnam and China were each predicted to turn further. The United States mightiness spot immoderate recovery, but not to nan levels seen earlier 2019.

It was suggested that Vietnam would beryllium a destination to watch. Its increasing popularity, supported by affordable recreation packages and beardown connection of mouth, meant that moreover higher numbers of Australians could beryllium expected to sojourn successful nan adjacent future.

Conclusion

The 2024–25 recreation statistic from nan Australian Bureau of Statistics bespeak a pronounced trend: Australian visitors are progressively favouring proximate Asian locations. Visitor numbers to Japan person surged; nan re-emergence of China arsenic a awesome outbound marketplace is evident; Vietnam continues to climb nan fame ranks; and Indonesia maintains its longstanding pre-eminence, collectively redefining nan location recreation landscape.

At nan aforesaid moment, nan United States was experiencing a diminution successful visitant interest, arsenic precocious expenses, shifting traveller perceptions, and prolonged distances diminished appeal. Given nan continued value of affordability successful consumers’ recreation assessments, nan Asia region is apt to clasp its competitory position astatine nan apex of Australian outbound preferences for nan foreseeable future.