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 Mar-2018 has nearly doubled from 1.2 million (7.2%) in the year to Mar-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%) 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 Mar-2008 just under 500,000 (2.9%) Australians planned to travel somewhere in Asia in the next 12 months.
Intention to travel overseas and travel to Asia in the next 12 months. Mar-2008 - Mar-2018
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia)
Indonesia (Bali) and Japan the winners while China is well down on 2008
The most popular Asian destination is now Indonesia. 10.9% 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%) plan on travelling to the tourist island of Bali and only 0.9% plan to travel to other parts of Indonesia.
The other big winner over the last decade is Japan. Now 10.5% of Australians planning an overseas trip in the next 12 months plan to go to Japan, more than double the 4.8% of a decade ago. Since 2008 the popularity of Japan as a travel destination for Australians has overtaken China, Singapore and Thailand.
See related report: Japan amongst the fastest growing holiday destinations for Australians
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% 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.
Popularity of Asian destinations of those planning an overseas trip next 12 months. 2008 v 2018
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia)
Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says Australians are increasingly considering overseas destinations when planning holidays but not all countries are benefiting from the increased propensity of Australians to travel overseas:
"Over the last decade the figures are undeniable - Australians are looking to travel overseas in greater numbers than ever before - and that's not just due to a growing population. The rise of Asia as a travel destination is borne out by the figures with over 1 million Australians now intending to travel to Asia in the next months compared to under 500,000 a decade ago. The two big winners have been Japan and Bali in Indonesia."