The Top Countries Australians Are Traveling to Right Now — And the Surprising Countries on the Rise
From classic favourites to unexpected contenders, the results of a new report may just influence your next trip.
It's bloody hard to get anywhere from Australia, so we Aussies tend to take our holidays seriously. A new survey from travel consultancy Forward Travel has analysed data from the Department of Home Affairs' Overseas Arrivals and Departures to reveal where Australians have been travelling since 2021.
The report ranks global destinations, clearly outlining the winners and losers in attracting Australian tourists. Unsurprisingly, the top spots remained consistent. 
As expected, Indonesia continues to dominate Australian travel trends. With Bali's beautiful landscapes, proximity, and affordability, Indonesia remains one of the top travel destinations for Australians. Likewise, New Zealand maintains its strong standing due to family ties and its proximity to Australia, it would be shocking to see it fall from favour. Singapore also features prominently, serving as both a central transit hub and a destination in its own right.
The USA, UAE, Thailand, and Fiji remain solid contenders. These destinations have remained relatively stable in rankings, serving as "comfort corridors" for Australians, places we trust and return to, even as other destinations gain popularity.
Surging up the rankings, Japan, Vietnam, and India have emerged as some of the most-travelled destinations since 2021. Driven by culture, food, ski tourism, safety, and a favourable exchange rate, Japan has experienced the most dramatic rise, jumping from 20th in 2021–22 to fourth in 2024–25, attracting over one million Australian visitors.
Vietnam has also seen remarkable growth, positioning itself as an affordable alternative to Thailand. From roughly 6,000 Australian visitors in 2021–22, the number skyrocketed to over 200,000 in 2024–25. Although Malaysia briefly overtook Vietnam in 2022–24, Vietnam reclaimed its lead by 2024–25, reflecting a developing rivalry between the two destinations.
India represents the most unpredictable trajectory, dipping in and out of the top 20 before returning in 2024–25. As traveller confidence increased, many Australians chose India for its profound cultural immersion and transformative travel experiences.
Australians continue to favour destinations that are familiar, affordable, and easily accessible, while rewarding countries that actively invest in tourism marketing and infrastructure.
At the bottom of the rankings are countries such as Samoa, Syria, Guinea, Montenegro, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. Political instability, limited flight connectivity, and inadequate tourism promotion pushed these countries to the bottom of the rankings.
However, Uruguay and Zimbabwe have shown some improvement in recent years, climbing out of the lowest tier, suggesting signs of stabilisation.
Countries that once held mid-tier positions but have since fallen into obscurity include Mexico and Peru, likely due to increased competition and a decline in their appeal to Australian travellers.
Other countries such as Oman, Dominica, and Malawi have remained consistently in the lower tiers, showing minimal movement. Oman's ranking has fluctuated, particularly appearing in the bottom tier in 2021–22, disappearing entirely, then re-emerging in 2024–25.
Across regions, African nations struggle due to a lack of direct flights, higher travel costs, and political instability. Latin America and the Caribbean face the challenge of long travel times and distance. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific's lesser-known destinations and parts of Central Asia have yet to capitalise on their transit potential and translate it into tourism demand. As a result, these regions remain anchored toward the bottom of the rankings.
Now that we've entered spring, it's not too early to start planning for the travel trends of 2026. So the question is: where will you be headed next?
Ready for your next getaway? Dive into Forward Travel's expert report and see which destinations are topping travellers' lists.
Images: Suratman Alimuddin, RuslanKaln, Drazen Zigic, Mikolajn, Igor Kovalev, Wiley Wilkins
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