Published on
December 13, 2025
Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand and Singapore tourism are at the centre of a sharp rebound in Australian international travel, according to new October 2025 figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest Overseas Arrivals and Departures release shows that Australians continued to favour shorter-haul destinations in East and Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, with these four markets recording the fastest year-on-year growth in short-term resident returns.
ABS data confirms that short-term Australian resident returns (trips under one year) reached 1,278,230 in October 2025, up 7.9 percent on October 2024 and 11.5 percent higher than October 2019, underscoring how regional tourism corridors have not only recovered but now exceed pre-pandemic volumes. This surge reinforces forecasts that Australia’s travel and tourism sector is on track for record economic contribution in 2025.
Japan tourism nearly 20% higher year-on-year
ABS statistics show that Japan tourism from Australia climbed strongly in October, with short-term resident returns rising by nearly twenty percent year-on-year. The number of Australian residents returning from Japan reached just over one hundred two thousand trips for the month, up from the mid-eighty thousand range a year earlier, confirming Japan’s status as one of the most dynamic long-haul Asian destinations for the Australian outbound market.
This growth reflects continued appetite for seasonal travel, cultural experiences and city breaks in destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka and Hokkaido, supported by improved air capacity and competitive fares. For Japan, the trend provides a further boost to inbound tourism from Australia, helping diversify its visitor mix beyond regional Asian markets and underpinning year-round visitor spending in urban and regional areas.
Vietnam and New Zealand tourism strengthen regional ties
Vietnam tourism also recorded robust growth, with ABS figures indicating short-term returns up by around fifteen percent year-on-year, translating to nearly forty-eight thousand Australian residents arriving home from Vietnam in October. This rise highlights how Vietnam has solidified its position as a value-driven, experience-rich destination for Australians, combining beaches, food tourism and cultural travel within a mid-haul flight range.
Closer to home, New Zealand tourism from Australia increased by more than ten percent year-on-year, with about one hundred twenty-six thousand Australian residents returning from trips across the Tasman. This reinforces New Zealand’s status as one of Australia’s most important short-haul tourism partners, supported by dense air links, strong VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic and shared event calendars that keep two-way travel high throughout the year.
Singapore tourism tops growth charts, helped by F1 shift
The standout performer in October was Singapore tourism from Australia, where ABS data shows a more than fifty-percent year-on-year rise in short-term returns, making it the fastest-growing major destination. Analysts link part of this spike to the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix, which in 2025 shifted from September to October, concentrating event-driven travel into the month covered by the latest statistics.
Even allowing for the calendar effect, the surge underscores how Singapore’s role as both a destination and a transit hub is driving higher Australian visitation, especially for short breaks, business events and onward travel across Asia and Europe. For Singapore, stronger arrivals from Australia contribute to its broader tourism recovery strategy, which depends on high-spend long-haul visitors and regional connectivity.
Indonesia, China, Italy, Thailand, the US and UK tourism trends
When it comes to overall popularity, Indonesia tourism remains dominant for Australians, with ABS data showing that Indonesia, powered by Bali, accounted for about 13.9 percent of all short-term resident returns, or roughly one hundred seventy-seven thousand trips, nearly one in seven outbound journeys in October. Year-on-year, Indonesia recorded growth of around five percent, confirming its position as Australia’s leading short-haul holiday market.
Elsewhere in Asia, China tourism from Australia continued its gradual comeback, with ABS reporting almost ten percent year-on-year growth in resident returns, albeit from a smaller base than pre-pandemic levels. Italy, widely regarded as Australians’ favorite European destination, saw a modest uplift in short-term returns to just over fifty-eight thousand trips, illustrating ongoing demand for long-haul European tourism even as travelers prioritize nearer destinations.
By contrast, Thailand tourism from Australia experienced a slight decline in year-on-year returns in October, while the United Kingdom and the United States posted larger drops of around 4.6 percent and 4.9 percent respectively. Despite the annual decrease, the US still attracted more Australian residents than in September 2025, roughly fifteen thousand additional trips, indicating that demand remains sensitive to seasonality, airfares and currency movements.
Overall outbound growth and top ten tourism destinations
In total, short-term Australian resident returns grew by more than ninety thousand trips year-on-year in October, reaching 1,278,230 and marking a 7.9 percent increase on October 2024. Compared with October 2019, outbound short-term travel was up 11.5 percent, demonstrating that Australian tourism demand has not only recovered from pandemic-era lows but is now expanding beyond earlier benchmarks.
ABS data confirms that Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, the US and the UK were the five most visited countries by Australian residents in October, followed by China, Italy, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore to complete the top 10 list. The dominance of shorter-haul and regional tourism markets, alongside resilient demand for a select group of long-haul favourites, suggests that Australians are balancing value, proximity and experience when choosing destinations.
Inbound tourism to Australia also climbs
The ABS release also highlights encouraging news for Australian inbound tourism, with short-term visitor arrivals reaching 740,650 in October 2025, a 9.3 percent increase compared with October 2024. Total arrivals, including all travel durations, reached 2.1 million, while total departures were just over 1.8 million, underscoring Australia’s position as both a major source market and an attractive destination within the Asia-Pacific region.
Tourism agencies note that these figures represent border movements rather than unique visitors, but they nonetheless signal stronger tourism flows, higher aviation activity and positive momentum as global travel normalises. For both outbound and inbound segments, the October 2025 data confirms that Japan, Vietnam, New Zealand and Singapore tourism are central to Australia’s regional travel story, while long-standing favourites from Indonesia to Italy continue to shape the country’s broader engagement with the world.
