ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures
Australia’s inbound international travel sector continues to rebuild momentum, with new ABS Overseas Arrivals and Departures data for August 2025 released today showing encouraging signs.
The latest ABS data – which provides one of the most up-to-date pictures of international travel trends – reveals short-term arrivals to Australia were up 14.3% in August compared to a year ago.
New Zealand remains Australia’s largest source of international visitors, followed by China, the United States, and the UK. The momentum from the Chinese market continues to build, with student visa activity also rebounding. On the outbound front, Australians are still showing a strong appetite for overseas travel — especially to Indonesia (led by Bali), New Zealand, the US and the UK.
While the overall trend is upward, monthly fluctuations still reflect airline capacity, visa approvals, school holiday patterns and cost-of-living considerations. But taken together, this data points to a market that is rebalancing, and travellers that are reshaping habits in a post-pandemic world.
International Visitor Survey
Tourism Research Australia’s International Visitor Survey (IVS) for the June quarter published on 24 September 2025 paints a similar picture.
Who’s coming — and why
According to Tourism Research Australia’s latest quarterly IVS results (for the year ending June 2025), international visitation to Australia is climbing steadily. Visitor numbers reached 7.8 million — about 90% of pre‑pandemic levels — with spend in Australia climbing 22% above 2019 to hit $55.4 billion. While international visitation is still recovering to pre-pandemic volumes, this is partially offset by stronger yield, with travellers spending more on average.
Most tellingly, the strongest growth has come from the United States, now Australia’s third-largest source market behind New Zealand and China. American visitors are not only arriving in greater numbers, but they’re also spending more — with total spend rising to $5.4 billion. That’s an 84% increase on the previous year, reinforcing the value of long-haul, high-yield markets.
Where they’re going — and how long they’re staying
New South Wales remains the most visited state, followed by Victoria and Queensland. But the rebound isn’t just about numbers. It’s about how visitors are travelling – and for how long. The average length of stay for international visitors is now 30 nights – well above pre-COVID norms.
This aligns with a noticeable uptick in multi-stop itineraries, with more than half of all international visitors visiting two or more destinations in Australia. The implications for regional dispersal, infrastructure and marketing strategies are significant.
Other notable trends include:
- The US has overtaken China as our highest-spending market, contributing $5.4 billion over the year.
- Holidaymakers are staying longer and travelling further, with regional dispersal up and average spend per trip increasing.
- Top destinations remain NSW, Victoria and Queensland, but the Northern Territory and Tasmania are seeing above-average growth in nights and spend.
- Nature-based tourism, food and wine experiences, and cultural attractions continue to be key drawcards for international travellers.
It’s also worth noting that first-time visitors are now a greater share of the total cohort, suggesting fresh interest in Australia rather than simply the return of previous travellers. This bodes well for marketing efforts targeting new audiences.
Looking Ahead: Signals for Industry and Government
From soaring US visitor spend to the rise in longer regional trips, the momentum is clear — but the path to full recovery is far from predictable. The dual insights from the ABS and IVS paint a picture of cautious optimism: travellers are returning, spending is strong in key markets, and regional destinations are increasingly on the radar.
For tourism operators, government agencies and policy stakeholders, the challenge is now twofold. Ensuring air capacity, infrastructure and visa processes can keep up and continuing to refine Australia’s value proposition in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
The latest data provides more than numbers. They reveal behaviours, shifting sentiment, and opportunities to future-proof our visitor economy.
