The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest Overseas Arrivals and Departures release shows 696,500 short-term overseas visitors entered Australia in September 2025, nudging past the comparable September 2019 figure and marking the first full month that inbound tourism has exceeded pre-COVID levels. Outbound travel, however, remains well ahead at 1.24 million trips, underscoring Australians’ enduring appetite for overseas holidays.
New Zealand, China, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore topped the inbound league table, while Bali retained its crown as Australians’ favourite destination, drawing 13 % of all outbound trips. Industry stakeholders say the milestone vindicates three years of aggressive route-re-building by airlines, airport fee waivers and Tourism Australia’s “Come and Say G’day” global campaign.
![International visitor arrivals finally surpass pre-pandemic levels, signalling full rebound for Australian tourism]()
According to Australian Airports Association chief executive Simon Westaway, international passengers spent AUD 13 billion in the year to June 2025 – a 27 % year-on-year jump – putting the sector on course to exceed the AUD 16 billion generated in 2019. Airports are funnelling that revenue into terminal refurbishments and biometrics to cut connection times for business travellers.
Corporate travel giant Flight Centre echoed the upbeat mood in a same-day market update, pointing to “robust double-digit growth” in its corporate-travel segment and forecasting FY 2026 profit before tax of between AUD 305 million and AUD 340 million. The company singled out strengthening trans-Pacific and Europe traffic as key drivers.
For mobility managers, the takeaway is that lift capacity is back – but so is competition for seats. Peak-season fares to the US and Europe remain around 15 % above 2019 levels, suggesting travel budgets will stay elevated well into 2026. Organisations should lock in advance-purchase agreements early, especially for project travel in Q2 and Q3.
New Zealand, China, the United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore topped the inbound league table, while Bali retained its crown as Australians’ favourite destination, drawing 13 % of all outbound trips. Industry stakeholders say the milestone vindicates three years of aggressive route-re-building by airlines, airport fee waivers and Tourism Australia’s “Come and Say G’day” global campaign.
According to Australian Airports Association chief executive Simon Westaway, international passengers spent AUD 13 billion in the year to June 2025 – a 27 % year-on-year jump – putting the sector on course to exceed the AUD 16 billion generated in 2019. Airports are funnelling that revenue into terminal refurbishments and biometrics to cut connection times for business travellers.
Corporate travel giant Flight Centre echoed the upbeat mood in a same-day market update, pointing to “robust double-digit growth” in its corporate-travel segment and forecasting FY 2026 profit before tax of between AUD 305 million and AUD 340 million. The company singled out strengthening trans-Pacific and Europe traffic as key drivers.
For mobility managers, the takeaway is that lift capacity is back – but so is competition for seats. Peak-season fares to the US and Europe remain around 15 % above 2019 levels, suggesting travel budgets will stay elevated well into 2026. Organisations should lock in advance-purchase agreements early, especially for project travel in Q2 and Q3.
