The government’s tourism measurement agency’s five-year forecast, out to 2028, released today, puts international visitor arrivals at 10.2 million in 2025, more than 730,000 higher than the pre-pandemic record of 9,466,000 visitors who travelled to Australia in 2019.
Today’s 2025 figure is also significantly higher than last year’s forecast, which put 2025 visitor arrivals at 9,481,000 – which is also more than 700,000 down on this year’s prediction.
Tourism Research Australia believes visitation will be back at 98 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers in 2024 and sees short term international arrivals soaring to 12.1 million by 2028.
Today’s forecast also predicts domestic and international travel spend in Australia to be $170.3 billion, which is 23 per cent higher than pre-pandemic.
Spend by international visitors alone is expected to be $28.6 billion in 2023 – a 124 per cent increase on last year.
“It’s great to see the rapid increase in international visitors to Australia this year, who are coming back in droves,” said Australia’s tourism minister Don Farrell.
“A thriving tourism industry is crucial to our economic prosperity, with every dollar spent in the visitor economy generating a further 81 cents for other parts of the economy.
“Tourism is a major export earner and employer. One in eight Australian businesses is tourism-related and it is the lifeblood of so many Australian communities.”
