Japan is on the brink of welcoming one million Australian visitors, with numbers reaching 990,950 by July 2026, according to the latest Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) Travel Trends Report. This surge comes amidst a record 12.76 million overseas trips taken by Australians over the same period.

The report, based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Department of Infrastructure, highlights a 3.5% growth in outbound travel and a 6.9% increase in international visitor arrivals, totalling 9.07 million. Vietnam emerged as the fastest-growing destination for Australians, with a 15.9% increase to 577,880 visitors, whilst Indonesia remains the most popular, with 1.79 million trips.

Dean Long, CEO of the association, remarked, "Japan is knocking on the door of one million Australian visitors a year, and that's a huge milestone for what has become one of our most popular destinations."

China also saw significant growth, with outbound travel rising 13.4% to 749,130, and Chinese visitors to Australia increasing by 17.6% to 1,131,650. Meanwhile, New Zealand continues to be Australia's largest visitor market, with 1.43 million arrivals.

Airlines are experiencing fuller flights on Australia's busiest domestic routes, with load factors increasing on nine of the ten busiest corridors. Qantas and Jetstar now carry one in three international passengers to and from Australia, whilst Malaysia Airlines increased its market share from 2.4% to 3.9%.

As Japan edges closer to this tourism milestone, the growth in travel to Vietnam and China suggests a dynamic shift in Australian travel preferences, promising further developments in the region's tourism landscape.

This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools. Spot an error? Report it here.