This was published 1 year ago
Most popular destinations for Australians in 2022: Where we travelled this year
Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand's South Island. New Zealand returned to the top of Australian travellers' destination list in 2022.Credit: iStock
With international borders open again, Australians flocked back to their favourite destinations in 2022, but in far fewer numbers than previously.
New Zealand, Indonesia, the United States and the United Kingdom returned to the top of Australians' overseas travel destinations, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal.
In 2022, almost 3.7 million of Australians residents returned from short-term trips overseas, a figure down 67 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.
New Zealand regained its number-one spot with more than 515,000 trips up to October this year (the most recent figures available).
The top four most-visited countries matched 2019's rankings, with New Zealand followed by Indonesia (454,650 trips), the United States (372,650), and the United Kingdom (355,210).
Luxury Escapes co-founder and chief executive Adam Schwab said that in leisure travel there was one clear favourite.
"Bali was the absolute standout in terms of demand," said Schwab. "The speed at which certainly the Australian market returned to Bali was incredible, and it was also quite good because other markets weren't there yet, so it was a much nicer Bali, it wasn't as hectic or busy as it was pre-COVID."
While the United States retained its number-three position, Schwab said high airfares have made the historically popular country less accessible and attractive to Australians.
"If you look at Bali, Thailand and Fiji, unlike the US, air costs remain relatively competitive," he said.
"You're paying two-three times that of pre-COVID to the US. People are still going but much more corporate, or wealthy markets… when you're looking at upwards of $5000 for economy airfares it does price a lot of people out of the market."
India has moved up the list to claim the fifth spot, with residents making up 259,640 trips. The South Asian nation was the most-visited overseas destination in February, accounting for 18 per cent of all resident returns, with travel interest fuelled by a large India-born migrant population (721,000) – second only to England-born migrants (980,400).
The Australian love affair with Fiji picked up almost where it left off with 255,890 trips – bringing it back to 89 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. The Pacific nation lured Australians early after reopening borders in November 2021.
Rounding out the top 10 are Singapore (179,560 trips) Thailand (177,490), Italy (111,960) and Vietnam (98,340).
The data shows overseas trips increased month-on-month throughout the year, as countries relaxed COVID-19 restrictions across the world and momentum increased. In October the number of overseas departures for short trips climbed back to 67 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Spending on overseas trips soared above pre-pandemic levels, with the first full quarter of relaxed international travel restrictions seeing spending surge by 58 per cent, as international travel returned to 56 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Schwab was surprised by the rapid uptake of bookings to destinations like Bali, Fiji and Thailand.
"All those destinations significantly exceeded 2019 [booking] levels," said Schwab.
Bunnik Travel Group's joint-chief executive Dennis Bunnik noted clients were taking longer holidays or squeezing in multiple overseas trips in one year – with one customer purchasing a record four tours in a single trip.
"Longer trips with multiple tours enabled travellers to make up for lost time but also helped combat the high costs of airfares by getting the most value out of one international flight," Bunnik said.
Those booking multiple trips were generally using up travel credits, the CEO said, or wanting to see as much as possible "before the 2023 rush".
Notably missing from Australia's top 10 most-travelled list was China, whose zero COVID-19 policy throughout most of 2022 saw Australian visitation drop by 97 per cent compared to 2019, and Japan, which only officially began allowing independent travel for foreign visitors on October 11.
WHERE AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLED IN 2022
- New Zealand: 515,090 (decrease of 57.7%)
- Indonesia: 454,650 (decrease of 61.5%)
- USA: 372,650 (decrease of 58.9%)
- UK: 355,210 (decrease of 40%)
- India: 259,640 (decrease of 26%)
- Fiji: 255,890 (decrease of 11%)
- Singapore: 179,560 (decrease of 47%)
- Thailand: 177,490 (decrease of 62%)
- Italy: 111,960 (decrease of 53%)
- Vietnam: 98,340 (decrease of 64%)
*Based on January-October 2022 ABS Australian resident return trips data, when compared with the same period 2019
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