Indonesia, Japan, China, Vietnam, New Zealand And The Us Dominate Australians’ Travel Plans In 2024-25 Amid Changing Economic And Cultural Influences

Published on August 15, 2025

Indonesia, Japan, China, Vietnam, New Zealand, and nan US are dominating Australians’ recreation plans successful 2024-25, driven by economical and taste shifts. Bali remains a favourite for its affordability, while Japan rises owed to nan beardown Australian dollar and taste appeal. China’s fame grows pinch a caller visa policy, and Vietnam attracts travelers seeking affordability and culture. New Zealand stays celebrated for its earthy beauty and short recreation time, while nan US sees a diminution owed to precocious costs and governmental instability. These changes bespeak evolving recreation preferences amid world economical shifts.

Indonesia, specifically Bali, remains nan astir celebrated destination, representing 14% of Australian trips, aliases 1.74 cardinal visits. Japan has seen nan astir important summation successful popularity, moving into 3rd spot pinch 910,640 Australian visitors. This marks a crisp rise, arsenic nan number of trips to Japan has tripled since 2014-15.

The United States has dropped to 4th place, attracting 746,220 visitors, a alteration of 25% compared to a decade ago. The US is nan only state successful nan apical 5 pinch less Australian visitors successful 2024-25 compared to 2014-15, reflecting a simplification of 253,220 trips. China has moved up 2 places to go nan 5th astir visited country, signaling its increasing entreaty to Australian travelers.

A decade ago, successful 2014-15, nan astir celebrated recreation destinations for Australians were New Zealand, Indonesia, nan United States, nan United Kingdom, and Thailand.

The Shift Toward Japan and Decline of nan US

Japan’s emergence successful fame among Australian travelers tin beryllium attributed to respective factors. The robust worth of nan Australian dollar compared to nan Japanese yen has made walking to Japan much economical for Australians. Additionally, nan readiness of much direct, cost-effective flights has made it easier for Australians to visit. Japan’s rich | taste offerings, including cuisine, traditions, and stunning landscapes, person besides contributed to its accrued appeal.

According to Skyscanner’s 2025 recreation trends report, Australian travelers are chiefly influenced by weather, section attractions, cuisine, and taste experiences erstwhile selecting their recreation destinations. Weather tops nan database astatine 66%, followed by attractions (65%), nutrient (63%), and civilization (59%).

In contrast, liking successful nan United States has been declining, partially owed to perceived governmental instability. While immoderate Australians still wish to sojourn destinations for illustration New York, galore are choosing to hold their trips. The governmental landscape, including nan unpredictability of authorities decisions, has made immoderate travelers hesitant to sojourn nan US.

Travel to China, however, has seen an summation not driven by governmental factors, but by a caller visa argumentation introduced successful November 2024. The argumentation allows Australian passport holders to sojourn China for up to 30 days without a visa. This easier entree has encouraged much Australians to recreation to China, helping it unafraid its spot arsenic a apical destination.

The Broader Forces Shaping Travel

While destination-specific factors matter, broader trends are besides influencing Australians’ recreation choices. These see speech rates, governmental instability, information concerns, earthy disasters, and nan desire for world recreation post-COVID.

With nan expanding costs of living, galore Australians are rethinking their recreation intentions. Travel whitethorn go a luxury that immoderate cannot afford, particularly arsenic disposable income shrinks. Despite beardown liking successful traveling, economical pressures are influencing really and erstwhile Australians return trips.

Exchange rates besides play a important domiciled successful recreation decisions. The Australian dollar has appreciated by astir 25% against nan Japanese yen complete nan past decade, making Japan a much charismatic destination for Australians. However, nan Aussie dollar has depreciated by 9% against nan US dollar successful nan past 5 years, making nan US little affordable.

The emergence successful nan costs of long-haul flights, mixed pinch nan weaker speech complaint against nan US dollar, has dampened request for recreation to nan US. Although nan US remains a celebrated destination for Australians, higher costs and economical uncertainties person reduced interest.

New Travel Hotspots

Experts foretell that Australians whitethorn progressively gravitate toward destinations person to home, peculiarly successful Southeast Asia and nan Pacific. These regions connection much affordable options and shorter recreation times compared to long-haul destinations for illustration nan US aliases Europe. The displacement successful recreation patterns intends that Southeast Asia and Pacific nations could participate nan apical recreation destinations arsenic travelers activity greater value.

The May 2025 recreation trends study from nan Australian Travel Industry Association highlighted notable maturation successful recreation to Japan, China, and Vietnam. Japan saw a 38.4% emergence successful Australian visitors, followed by China (+35%) and Vietnam (+26.2%).

Southeast Asia offers a operation of affordability and proximity that has made it an charismatic action for Australian travelers. Vietnam, often seen arsenic an replacement to Indonesia, provides an opportunity for those looking for a destination that is simply a spot disconnected nan beaten path.

The Impact of Climate Change connected Travel

Climate alteration is expected to person a profound effect connected early recreation patterns. Rising temperatures and shifting upwind patterns whitethorn render immoderate celebrated destinations little viable. Ski resorts whitethorn nary longer person capable snowfall, while traditionally sunny destinations could acquisition accrued rainfall.

Policies aimed astatine reducing c emissions, specified arsenic limits connected c output aliases nan usage of biofuels successful aviation, whitethorn thrust up nan costs of travel. If summons prices rise, destinations for illustration Bali could go little affordable, prompting Australians to reconsider their recreation plans.

Indonesia, Japan, China, Vietnam, New Zealand, and nan US are starring Australians’ recreation plans for 2024-25, influenced by factors specified arsenic affordability, taste appeal, caller visa policies, and shifting governmental and economical conditions. These changing preferences bespeak a blend of economical pressures and evolving taste interests.

With biology concerns growing, location is simply a existent anticipation that Australians whitethorn statesman to attraction much connected section travel. If overseas trips go much costly owed to rising costs and biology regulations, home recreation could go much popular.

As Australians proceed to prioritize sustainability, nan early of world recreation whitethorn spot important shifts, pinch much travelers opting for nearby, affordable, and environmentally friends options.