Australia’s international travel recovery gained further momentum in December 2025, but the numbers reveal an interesting imbalance: more people left the country than arrived during the peak holiday month.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), total departures reached 2,451,810, exceeding total arrivals of 1,996,200 in December. Departures rose 8.4% year-on-year, while arrivals increased 7.7% compared to December 2024 .
The data highlights strong outbound demand among Australians during the festive season, even as inbound tourism continues to rebuild toward pre-pandemic levels.
Outbound Travel Leads the Recovery
Short-term resident returns Australians coming back from overseas trips totalled 869,410, up 5.6% year-on-year.
More significantly, outbound travel has now exceeded pre-COVID benchmarks. The ABS noted that short-term resident returns were 16% higher than December 2019 levels .
This indicates that Australians are travelling abroad at a stronger pace than before the pandemic.
For airlines, travel agencies, and outbound tour operators, the trend signals sustained consumer confidence in international travel.
December is traditionally a peak month due to school holidays and Christmas–New Year travel, but the scale of outbound activity suggests a structural rebound rather than just seasonal demand.
Top destinations Australians returned from include:
- New Zealand – 123,990 trips
- Indonesia – 114,460 trips
- Japan – 68,150 trips
Indonesia’s position reflects continued demand for Bali and other leisure hotspots, while Japan’s popularity may be supported by favourable exchange rates and strong tourism marketing in Asia-Pacific markets.
Visitor Arrivals Still Below 2019 Peak
On the inbound side, Australia recorded 1,036,660 short-term visitor arrivals, up 9.7% year-on-year.
While the growth rate is strong, visitor numbers remain 3.8% below December 2019 levels, indicating that inbound tourism has not yet fully recovered .
The three largest source markets were:
- New Zealand – 142,420 trips
- United Kingdom – 138,610 trips
- United States – 102,590 trips
New Zealand alone accounted for 13.7% of total visitor arrivals, underlining the importance of the trans-Tasman corridor.
The slower recovery in inbound numbers suggests that while Australia is benefiting from global tourism demand, it is not yet capturing its full pre-pandemic share of international visitors.
Capacity constraints, air connectivity, visa processing times, and competition from other Asia-Pacific destinations may be contributing factors.
The fact that departures significantly exceeded arrivals in December reflects a temporary but notable travel imbalance.
Total departures (2.45 million) outpaced arrivals (1.99 million) by more than 450,000 movements .
December often sees elevated outbound travel as Australians take holidays abroad. However, the scale of outbound activity relative to inbound tourism may raise broader economic considerations.
From a tourism revenue perspective:
- Outbound travel represents spending leaving the domestic economy.
- Inbound travel brings foreign spending into Australia’s hospitality, retail, aviation, and services sectors.
If outbound momentum continues to outstrip inbound growth over a sustained period, it could influence tourism trade balance and related service exports.
Sydney and Melbourne Remain Key Gateways
Geographically, international visitors remain heavily concentrated in major gateway states.
For short-term visitor arrivals in December 2025:
- New South Wales recorded 389,290 arrivals
- Victoria saw 281,540
- Queensland reached 204,310
NSW, home to Sydney, remains the dominant entry point, reinforcing its position as Australia’s primary international hub.
Meanwhile, the Northern Territory recorded the lowest visitor volume at 2,920 arrivals, highlighting continued regional disparities in tourism distribution.
This concentration benefits major metropolitan economies but underscores the challenge of spreading international tourism more evenly across the country.
Aviation Sector Benefiting
The rebound in both arrivals and departures points to sustained recovery in Australia’s aviation sector.
Airlines operating on key international routes particularly trans-Tasman services and Asia-Pacific corridors stand to benefit from:
- Strong leisure demand
- Pent-up travel appetite
- Continued reopening of long-haul markets
The prominence of New Zealand as both the top source of visitors and the leading outbound destination reinforces the commercial strength of the trans-Tasman travel corridor.
Meanwhile, Indonesia and Japan’s ranking among top outbound destinations signals strong regional connectivity across Southeast and East Asia, an important development for Asia-Pacific tourism competition.
Travel Recovery Is Uneven But Advancing
Overall, December’s data presents a mixed but positive picture:
- International travel volumes are expanding year-on-year.
- Outbound travel has surpassed pre-COVID levels.
- Inbound tourism is close to, but not yet at, full recovery.
Importantly, the ABS notes that these statistics reflect border crossings, not individual people, and should not be interpreted as migration data .
For policymakers and industry stakeholders, the next phase of recovery will likely focus on:
- Increasing inbound visitor capacity
- Strengthening high-value source markets
- Expanding air routes
- Encouraging regional dispersal beyond major cities
If current momentum continues, Australia could approach or surpass pre-pandemic inbound levels in 2026. However, sustaining that trajectory may depend on global economic conditions, aviation capacity, and competitive positioning within Asia-Pacific tourism markets.
For now, December 2025 underscores one clear takeaway: Australians are travelling abroad in record numbers, and while inbound tourism is steadily rising, the outbound surge remains the dominant force in Australia’s travel landscape.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri
