Australia International Tourism Reaches 9.1 Million Arrivals as Visitor Spend Hits A$53.2 Billion

Australia's international visitor arrivals climbed to 9.10 million in 2025–26—an 8.3% annual increase—as international visitor expenditure reached a record A$53.2 billion.

[CANBERRA, Australia] — Official statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Tourism Research Australia (TRA) confirm that Australia's tourism recovery accelerated in 2025–26. Short-term international visitor arrivals reached 9.10 million, representing the second-highest annual total on record and coming within 2.6% of 2018–19 pre-pandemic levels. International visitor spending reached a record A$53.2 billion in 2025, supported by 1,900 weekly international flights operating across 13 Australian airports.

National Tourism Metrics: Arrivals, Spend, and Length of Stay

Data from Tourism Research Australia reveals that total visitor economy spending reached A$192.4 billion in 2025, a 6.5% increase year-over-year.

During the year ending December 2025, Australia logged 8.3 million international trips totaling 312.7 million visitor nights.

Direct in-country expenditure reached A$39.2 billion, while total trip spending totaled A$55.7 billion. International tourists stayed a median of 12 days, with holiday trips representing 45.4% of total arrivals.

National Visitor Economy Baseline (2025–26):
├── Total Visitor Economy Spending: A$192.4 Billion (+6.5% Annual Growth)
├── Record International Visitor Expenditure: A$53.2 Billion (Calendar Year 2025)
├── Annual International Visitor Arrivals (ABS): 9.10 Million (+8.3% YoY)
└── Aviation Capacity: ~1,900 Weekly International Flights from 70 Ports to 13 Airports

Key Feeder Markets: India and Japan Lead Inbound Growth

Growth across Asian source markets contributed to Australia's inbound visitor expansion:

• India: Inbound arrivals reached 451,524 in the year ending December 2025—up 2% year-over-year and 113% of 2019 levels. Indian travelers spent A$2.7 billion in the year ending September 2025, a 15% annual increase.
• Japan: Japanese arrivals reached 423,104 (+7% YoY), generating A$2.2 billion in traveler expenditure (+9% YoY).

High-Growth International Source Markets:
├── India Market: 451,524 Arrivals (113% of 2019 baseline) & A$2.7 Billion Expenditure (+15%)
└── Japan Market: 423,104 Arrivals (+7% YoY) & A$2.2 Billion Expenditure (+9%)

National Tourism Indicator	Official Government Benchmark	Performance Context
Annual Visitor Arrivals (2025–26)	9.10 Million	+8.3% YoY; second-highest annual total on record
Pre-Pandemic Benchmark Comparison	-2.6% vs 2018–19	2018–19 baseline recorded 9.34 million arrivals
December 2025 Monthly Arrivals	1,036,660 Visitors	+9.7% YoY; first month exceeding 1 million arrivals
Total Visitor Economy Value	A$192.4 Billion	+6.5% YoY across domestic & international sectors
Direct In-Country International Spend	A$39.2 Billion	In-country retail, lodging, dining & transport
Total International Trip Spend	A$55.7 Billion	Includes pre-booked international transport & tours
Median Duration of Stay	12 Days	312.7 million total visitor nights recorded
Holiday Purpose Share	45.4% of total trips	Leisure vacationers leading inbound recovery

ABS Five-Year Monthly Inbound Visitor Arrivals Series

The ABS monthly tracking series highlights the multi-year trajectory of Australia's international tourism recovery following border reopenings.

Month	2021–22	2022–23	2023–24	2024–25	2025–26
July	0.02M	0.33M	0.63M	0.66M	0.74M
August	0.01M	0.35M	0.60M	0.66M	0.75M
September	0.00M	0.37M	0.58M	0.63M	0.70M
October	0.00M	0.43M	0.61M	0.68M	0.74M
November	0.02M	0.51M	0.66M	0.70M	0.83M
December	0.07M	0.65M	0.88M	0.95M	1.04M
January	0.06M	0.41M	0.60M	0.71M	0.72M
February	0.09M	0.60M	0.86M	0.79M	0.94M
March	0.17M	0.61M	0.76M	0.76M	0.82M
April	0.24M	0.54M	0.59M	0.64M	0.64M
May	0.23M	0.51M	0.60M	0.61M	0.61M
June	0.28M	0.54M	0.59M	0.62M	0.57M

State and Territory Performance: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and WA

Arrivals varied across Australia's states and territories during 2025–26:

• New South Wales (Sydney): Led all states with 3.43 million international arrivals (37.7% market share), up from 3.14 million in 2024–25. December 2025 produced 389,290 arrivals (+8.7% YoY). Luxury hotels including Park Hyatt Sydney and Four Seasons Hotel Sydney reported high occupancy.
• Victoria (Melbourne): Recorded 2.32 million arrivals (+6.9% YoY from 2.17 million), supported by December 2025 arrivals of 281,540 (+9.1% YoY).
• Queensland (Gold Coast/Brisbane): Reached 1.87 million arrivals, with December 2025 expanding 15.9% YoY to 204,310 arrivals.
• Western Australia (Perth): Achieved 0.96 million arrivals—reaching 113.4% of its 2018–19 pre-pandemic level, the strongest recovery percentage in the nation.

State & Territory Visitor Distribution (2025–26):
├── New South Wales: 3.43 Million Arrivals (37.7% National Market Share)
├── Victoria: 2.32 Million Arrivals (+6.9% YoY Growth)
├── Queensland: 1.87 Million Arrivals (+15.9% Dec 2025 YoY Surge)
└── Western Australia: 0.96 Million Arrivals (113.4% of 2018–19 Level - #1 Recovery Rate)

State / Territory	2018–19	2024–25	2025–26	Dec 2025 Volume	Dec YoY Growth
New South Wales	3.49M	3.14M	3.43M	389,290	+8.7%
Victoria	2.46M	2.17M	2.32M	281,540	+9.1%
Queensland	2.02M	1.74M	1.87M	204,310	+15.9%
Western Australia	0.85M	0.87M	0.96M	102,210	+4.8%
South Australia	0.27M	0.24M	0.27M	33,530	+17.5%
Tasmania	0.09M	0.08M	0.09M	12,430	+0.3%
Northern Territory	0.07M	0.05M	0.06M	2,920	-24.5%
ACT (Canberra)	0.11M	0.10M	0.10M	10,350	+1.0%

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How many international tourists visited Australia in 2025–26?
A: Australia recorded 9.10 million short-term international visitor arrivals in 2025–26, an 8.3% increase over 2024–25.

Q2: How much did international visitors spend in Australia during 2025?
A: International visitor expenditure reached a record A$53.2 billion in 2025, contributing to a total visitor economy of A$192.4 billion.

Q3: Which Australian state experienced the fastest tourism recovery relative to pre-pandemic levels?
A: Western Australia achieved 113.4% of its 2018–19 pre-pandemic visitor levels in 2025–26, marking the fastest recovery rate in Australia.

Why This Matters for Travelers, Hoteliers, and Tourism Operators

Analyzing Australia's 2025–26 tourism recovery statistics highlights key market insights:

• For International Travelers: Expanded aviation capacity across 13 Australian gateways creates competitive airfare options on long-haul routes.
• For Luxury Hotel Operators: Record A$53.2 billion visitor spending drives room demand at properties like Park Hyatt Sydney and The Langham Gold Coast.
• For Destination Marketers: Surging Indian (+15% spend) and Japanese (+9% spend) markets provide key growth targets for state tourism campaigns.

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