More Aussies intend to travel overseas than ever before – here’s where they’re going

Low angle rear view of passengers walking in the airport terminal. People with luggage in airport.

New research from Roy Morgan shows that Australians intentions to travel overseas has seen significant growth compared with last decade.

Over 2.3 million (11.4 per cent) Australians aged 14+ are intending to travel overseas in the next 12 months, up a significant 4.2ppts from a decade ago.

The research company said this is because of strong Australian population growth over the past decade the absolute number of 2.3 million intending to travel overseas in the year to March 2018 has nearly doubled from 1.2 million (7.2 per cent) in the year to March 2008.

Australia is due to pass 25 million total population during the next month.

A strong driver of the increase is the increasing proportion of Australians now planning to travel to Asia in the next 12 months.

Now over 1 million (5.1 per cent) Australians aged 14+ plan to travel to Asia in the next 12 months, up 2.2ppts from a decade ago – and more than double in real terms. In the year to March 2008 just under 500,000 (2.9 per cent) Australians planned to travel somewhere in Asia in the next 12 months.

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia) Apr. 2007 – Mar. 2008 to Apr.2017 – Mar. 2018, n = averages 17,943 per year.

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia) Apr. 2007 – Mar. 2008 to Apr.2017 – Mar. 2018, n = averages 17,943 per year.

The most popular Asian destination is now Indonesia. 10.9 per cent of Australians planning an overseas trip in the next 12 months plan to travel to Indonesia, up 3.4ppts on 2008.

The bulk of these Aussie holidaymakers (10.3 per cent) plan on travelling to the tourist island of Bali and only 0.9% plan to travel to other parts of Indonesia. There is a small cross-over for Australians intending to travel to both Bali and other parts of Indonesia.

The other big winner over the last decade is Japan. Now 10.5 per cent of Australians planning an overseas trip in the next 12 months plan to go to Japan, more than double the 4.8 per cent of a decade ago. Since 2008 the popularity of Japan as a travel destination for Australians has overtaken China, Singapore and Thailand.

China has seen the most significant decline in popularity over the past decade as an Asian travel destination for Australians although it is worth remembering that the Beijing Olympics were held in China in August 2008.

Now 5.3 per cent of Australians planning an overseas trip in the next 12 months plan to travel to China, down 4.6ppts from 2008. The popularity of both Hong Kong and mainland China has fallen over the past decade although the city-state is still marginally more popular than mainland China.

Now 3.9 per cent of Australians planning an overseas trip in the next 12 months plan on travelling to Hong Kong, down 2.1ppts and 2.3 per cent plan on travelling to mainland China, down 2.6ppts.

Apart from China other destinations in Asia to go against the overall trend and decline in popularity include Thailand, down 0.9ppts to 7 per cent, Vietnam, down 0.6ppts to 3.9 per cent and Malaysia, down 1.2ppts to 3.6 per cent.

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia) Apr. 2007 – Mar. 2008, n= 1,378 and Apr. 2017 – Mar. 2018, n = 1,511. Base: Australians aged 14+ intending to travel overseas in the next 12 months.Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia) Apr. 2007 – Mar. 2008, n= 1,378 and Apr. 2017 – Mar. 2018, n = 1,511. Base: Australians aged 14+ intending to travel overseas in the next 12 months.

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