In the 12 months to June 2026, 8.43 million international visitors travelled to Australia, compared to 8.6 million in the year to June 2019.
This follows figures for the year to March 2026 that showed a more than 99 per cent recovery of international visitation to Australia compared to the year to March 2019.
Looking at quarterly results for the April to June period, the number of visitors was down two per cent on the same period in 2025, while spend was down six per cent and nights spent in Australia were down by 11 per cent.
Looking at what source markets drove the decline in spend, spending by Chinese visitors was down by 26 per cent between April and June, while Indian visitors spent 35 per cent less and spending by visitors from across the Tasman dropped by 22 per cent.
However, looking at annual results, spend, visitors and nights in Australia were all up in the year to June 2026 compared to the year to June 2025 – spend in Australia was up by 16 per cent to $40.5 billion, visitors were up nine per cent and nights were up five per cent to 314.9 million.
Business travel, which includes those coming to Australia to attend a conference, meeting, exhibition or incentive, was up by three per cent on 2025 in terms of visitors and 13 per cent in terms of spending in Australia, however business travel is still 25 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
Over the year to June, Western Australia saw the largest increase in visitors, up by 14 per cent, compared to the year prior, while Australia’s national capital was the only region to see a drop in visitor arrivals – and a significant one at that: international visitors were down by 18 per cent in Canberra.
In terms of the two most populous states, New South Wales saw a slightly larger proportional increase in visitors over the year – up six per cent, versus a visitor uptick of two per cent for Victoria.
