Overseas arrivals and departures, Australia - 2023-24 financial year

Annual statistics on short-term international travel arriving in and departing from Australia.

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Released
15/08/2024
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Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia, June 2024
Released
15/08/2024 11:30am AEST

Short-term visitor arrivals (STVA)

Compares annual international travel arrivals over time by source country, state and territory, age and sex, main reason for journey and median duration of trip. All analysis in this section is done on short-term trips (less than 1 year).

For the most recent analysis by calendar year, see the December 2023 issue of Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia.

For visitors arriving in Australia in 2023-24:

  • There were 7,966,040 visitor arrivals - an increase of 36% on one year earlier
  • New Zealand was the largest source country, accounting for 17% of visitors
  • The most popular reason for travel was 'holiday' (43%)
  • The median duration of stay in Australia was 12 days, down from 14 days in 2022-23.

These statistics report on the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people. Most data in this release are rounded to the nearest 10. As a result, sums of components may not add exactly to totals.

Annual visitor arrivals

There were 7,966,040 visitor arrivals in 2023-24. This is an increase of 36% on the previous year, when there were 5,856,440 visitor arrivals.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a substantial decline in travel movements due to international border restrictions from March 2020. These restrictions were progressively lifted from 1 November 2021, and by 21 February 2022 Australian borders were reopened to most travellers.

Visitor arrivals have increased since international border restrictions were removed in November 2021, but remain lower than pre-COVID levels. The number of arrivals in June 2024 was 89% of the same month in 2019. This represents a continued increase on June 2023 arrivals (82% of June 2019 arrivals) and June 2022 arrivals (42% of June 2019 arrivals).

Visitor arrivals to Australia have generally been increasing over recent decades, with a continuous increase in the ten-year period ending 2019. However, due to the impact of COVID-19, a substantial decline was observed from February 2020 onwards. Since November 2021, visitor arrivals have been increasing as border restrictions were progressively lifted.

Peaks were seen during the:

  • Brisbane Expo in 1988
  • Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Decreases were observed during the:

  • Asian financial crisis in 1998
  • September 11 attacks in the USA in 2001
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003
  • Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008
  • Global COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020. 

Countries where visitors came from

The top five source countries for 2023-24 were New Zealand, China, the USA, the UK and India.

In 2023-24:

  • Short-term visitor arrivals for all top 5 source countries were higher than the previous year
  • New Zealand remained the largest source country for visitor arrivals with 1,367,380 visits
  • Arrivals from China were the second highest with 800,390 visits.

Ten years ago, in 2013-14, the top five source countries were New Zealand, China, the UK, the USA and Singapore.

  1. Top 5 source countries based on year ending June 2024.
  2. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

Visitor arrivals have increased since the easing of travel restrictions in November 2021, but the rates of recovery for visitor numbers from different countries have been varied.

Three of the top ten source countries in 2023-24 matched or exceeded pre-COVID levels: South Korea (reaching 126% of 2018-19 arrivals), India (112% of 2018-19 arrivals) and Indonesia (100% of 2018-19 arrivals). Of the top ten, China had the lowest number relative to pre-COVID, with 56% of 2018-19 arrivals.

  1. Top 10 source countries based on year ending June 2024.
  2. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
1.6 Short-term visitor arrivals, Australia - top 10 source countries(a) - selected years ('000)
Country of residence2013-142018-192022-232023-24
New Zealand1,226.571,407.241,082.421,367.38
China(b)773.721,432.89241.73800.39
USA538.16811.98557.29714.79
UK671.21718.58573.56615.28
India188.80372.04383.38416.44
Singapore357.95464.85357.43392.34
Japan330.67484.30173.15360.12
Korea, South199.58280.71169.72353.17
Indonesia152.49214.84164.90215.69
Hong Kong197.16309.58116.57211.24
All countries6,725.089,343.995,856.447,966.04
  1. Top 10 source countries based on year ending June 2024.
  2. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

STVA - state or territory of stay

All travellers are asked their intended address in Australia upon arrival. For 2023-24, the state with the highest number of visitor arrivals for short-term trips was New South Wales (38.4%), whilst the Northern Territory recorded the fewest (0.6%).

1.7 Short-term visitor arrivals, state/territory of residence - 2023-24 (%)

This map presents the proportion of short-term visitor arrivals in Australia in 2023-24, by their intended state or territory of stay.

Ten years ago, in 2013-14, Victoria had a smaller proportion of visitor arrivals (22.4%) than Queensland (22.7%) and the Northern Territory had a larger proportion (1.2%) than the Australian Capital Territory (1.0%) and Tasmania (0.6%).

All states and territories except the Northern Territory recorded an overall increase in international visitors in the years prior to 2020. While most states recorded steady annual growth, the Northern Territory and South Australia experienced fluctuations in visitor numbers. All states and territories observed a considerable drop in visitor numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the easing of travel restrictions in November 2021, visitor arrivals have increased in all states and territories, but have increased towards pre-COVID levels at different rates. In 2023-24, visitor arrivals to the ACT reached 94% of 2018-19 movements, the highest of any state or territory. Visitor arrivals to the Northern Territory were the lowest, with movements in 2023-24 reaching 64% of 2018-19 levels.

The mix of source countries at the state and territory level was different to that at the national level. In 2023-24:

  • New Zealand was the largest source country for visitors to NSW, Vic., Qld, SA and Tas.
  • Singapore was the largest source country for WA
  • The USA was the largest source country of visitors to the NT
  • China was the largest source country of visitors to the ACT.

Ten years earlier, in 2013-14, it was similar, with the only differences being that the UK was the leading source country for visitors to SA and WA, and New Zealand was the leading source country for visitors to the ACT.

STVA - age and sex

There were more visits to Australia by females than males in 2023-24 (4,178,360 females compared with 3,787,690 males). Ten years ago, in 2013-14, there were more male short-term visitor arrivals than female (3,400,060 males and 3,325,020 females). After a long history of more male than female visitors, female short-term visits overtook male visits in 2014-15. Since that year, short-term visitor arrivals of females have been greater than male visits each year, with the exception of 2020-21, when short-term visitor arrivals were greatly reduced because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

In 2023-24, the median age for both male and female visitors was 41 years. When broken down into five-year age groups, the largest group of visitor arrivals was those aged between 25 and 29 years. For this age group, New Zealand was the top source country (99,910 arrivals) and ‘holiday’ was the most frequently stated reason for journey (44%). In 2013-14, the median age for male visitors was 41, and the median age for female visitors was 40.

 

STVA - main reason for journey

Visitors are asked the main reason for their journey upon arrival in Australia.

The most common reason for journey in 2023-24 was ‘holiday’, accounting for 43% of visitor arrivals. In 2022-23 the most common reason for journey was ‘visiting friends/relatives’, accounting for 41% of visitor arrivals, while ‘holiday’ accounted for 36%.

  1. As a percentage of all short-term visitor arrivals.

In the pre-COVID period, ‘holiday’ was the most frequently reported reason for journey for visitor arrivals (47% in 2018-19), but international travel restrictions due to COVID-19 caused a change in travel behaviour, with ‘visiting friends/relatives’ becoming the most frequently reported reason for journey, and proportionally fewer travellers reporting ‘holiday’ as their main reason for journey. Since the easing of these restrictions, the number of visitors to Australia has increased for all reasons, and ‘holiday’ has returned to the most common reason for journey.

In 2023-24, female visitors were more likely than males to record their main reason for journey as 'holiday' or 'visiting friends/relatives'. Male visitors were more likely to record 'business', ‘conference’ or 'employment' than female visitors.

  1. Visiting friends/relatives

STVA - duration of stay

Visitors are asked their intended duration of stay in Australia upon arrival.

In 2023-24, the median duration of stay in Australia was 12 days. This was similar to ten years ago and prior to COVID-19 travel restrictions (2018-19), when the median duration of stay was 10 days. The median duration of stay was higher during years with travel restrictions (up to 26 and 25 days in 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively) and 14 days in 2022-23.

The median duration varied between the states and territories and between source countries.

1.13 Short-term visitor arrivals, state/territory of stay - top 10 source countries(a) - median duration of stay (days) - 2023-24
NSWVic.QldSAWATas.NTACTAust.(b)
India356158906161916161
UK192121212221232121
China(c)152019601727309119
Indonesia121214191010291012
Hong Kong101112141010221411
USA101212141414151110
Singapore8910108118129
New Zealand568912101377
Korea, South61091111108107
Japan6861289786
All countries111411201514212012
  1. Top 10 source countries have been calculated at the Australia level.
  2. Includes Other Territories.
  3. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

In 2023-24 the median duration of stay by state or territory was highest in the Northern Territory at 21 days, and lowest in New South Wales and Queensland at 11 days.

Visitors from India recorded a median duration of stay of 61 days, which was the longest of the top 10 countries. This was the same duration of stay as the previous year (61 days) and more than double the median duration of 30 days in 2013-14.

Visitors from Japan recorded the shortest stays, with a median duration of 6 days. This was the same duration as all years from 2013-14 through 2018-19. The median duration was higher during the years with COVID-19 travel restrictions (2020-2021 and 2021-22) and 8 days in 2022-23.

The median duration of stay of short-term visitors to Australia also varied by their reported reason for journey. Those travelling for:

  • ‘Education’ stayed the longest (152 days)
  • ‘Employment’ (146 days)
  • ‘Visiting friends/relatives’ (18 days)
  • ‘Holiday’ (9 days)
  • ‘Convention/conference’ and ‘business’ recorded the shortest stays (7 days).
     

Short-term resident returns (STRR)

Compares annual international travel arrivals over time by destination country, state and territory, age and sex, main reason for journey and median duration of trip. All analysis in this section is done on short-term trips (less than 1 year).

For the most recent analysis by calendar year, see the December 2023 issue of Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia.

For Australian residents returning to Australia in 2023-24:

  • There were 10,986,690 resident returns from overseas - an increase of 32% on one year earlier
  • Indonesia was the leading destination country for Australians travelling overseas, accounting for 14% of overseas trips
  • The most popular reason for travel was 'holiday' (58%)
  • The median trip duration was 15 days.

These statistics report on the number of international border crossings rather than the number of people. Most data in this release are rounded to the nearest 10. As a result, sums of components may not add exactly to totals
 

Annual resident returns

There were 10,986,690 resident returns recorded in 2023-24. This was an increase of over 2.6 million on 2022-23, when 8,337,080 trips were taken.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a substantial decline in travel movements due to the introduction of international border restrictions in March 2020. These restrictions were eased progressively from 1 November 2021, resulting in increased overseas travel since.

The total number of residents returning from overseas in 2023-24 was 32% higher than the number of returns in 2022-23, and reached 98% of the 2018-19 (pre-COVID) volume. Monthly resident returns reached 100% of the 2019 volume in January 2024, for the first time since international travel restrictions were lifted. Since then, monthly volumes have ranged between 93% and 105% of pre-COVID volumes, with the June 2024 volume at 103%.

The number of Australian residents travelling overseas has largely been increasing over recent decades, with the general trend interrupted by various historical events such as the: 

  • Early 1990s recession in Australia
  • September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001
  • Bali bombings in 2002
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003
  • Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008
  • Global COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2020.

A substantial decline was observed from March 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. Travel by Australian residents has increased since border restrictions were gradually removed from November 2021 and is now approaching the volume observed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Destination countries

The top five destination countries in 2023-24 were Indonesia, New Zealand, the USA, Japan and the UK.

In 2023-24: 

  • Short-term resident returns for all top 5 destination countries were higher than in 2022-23
  • Indonesia was the leading destination country with 1,531,190 trips, most of whom recorded 'holiday' as their reason for travel (87%)
  • Residents returning from New Zealand increased to 1,309,860, up from 1,196,620 in 2022-23
  • The USA was the only country in the top 5 where travel volumes remained lower than 10 years ago (714,300 trips, down from 970,230 in 2013-14).

Ten years ago, in 2013-14, the top five countries were New Zealand, Indonesia, the USA, Thailand and the UK.

  1. Top 5 destination countries based on year ending June 2024.

The number of overseas trips taken by Australian residents has increased since the easing of travel restrictions in November 2021, but the number of trips taken to different countries has been varied.

Travel to five of the top ten destination countries in 2023-24 exceeded pre-COVID levels, including Japan (reaching 145% of 2018-19 volumes), India (124%) and Vietnam (121%). Of the top ten, The USA had the lowest number relative to pre-COVID, with 66% of 2018-19 volumes.

  1. Top 10 destination countries based on year ending June 2024.
  2. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.
2.6 Short-term resident returns, Australia - top 10 destination countries(a) - selected years ('000)
2013-142018-192022-232023-24
Indonesia1,015.481,310.841,127.181,531.19
New Zealand1,185.561,444.171,196.621,309.86
USA970.231,078.84609.00714.30
Japan219.41483.63311.08702.73
UK564.31667.81539.65618.57
Thailand615.75565.27422.62535.25
China(b)398.31610.87115.01520.20
India258.35416.30483.77515.00
Fiji343.02345.35375.74395.83
Vietnam243.19322.47271.58388.58
All countries8,986.7511,231.818,337.0810,986.69
  1. Top 10 destination countries based on year ending June 2024.
  2. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

STRR - state or territory of residence

All travellers are asked their intended address in Australia upon arrival. For 2023-24, the state with the highest proportion of resident returns from short-term trips was New South Wales (33.4%), whilst the Northern Territory recorded the lowest (0.6%).

2.7 Short-term resident returns, state/territory of residence - 2023-24 (%)

This map presents the proportion of short-term resident returns in Australia in 2023-24, by their state or territory of residence.

Ten years ago, in 2013-14, the Northern Territory had a higher proportion of resident returns (1.2%) than Tasmania (1.0%). The Northern Territory has since fallen to 0.6% of resident returns, while Tasmania has remained at 1.0%. Victoria had the largest increase in the proportion of resident returns, from 24.9% in 2013-14 to 27.8% in 2023-24, while Western Australia had the largest decrease, from 15.5% to 12.6%.

Most states and territories recorded growth in the number of overseas trips taken by residents in the years prior to 2020. Western Australia remained steady from 2014 until the impact of the pandemic, while the Northern Territory fluctuated across the decade. There was a considerable drop for all states and territories from March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The easing of travel restrictions from November 2021 has resulted in an increase of international travel from residents of all states, with Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales all reaching volumes of over 95% in 2023-24 compared to 2018-19. The ACT and Tasmania reached volumes of over 90% relative to pre-COVID, while the lowest volume relative to pre-COVID was for the Northern Territory, with 2023-24 returns reaching 76% of 2018-19 volumes.

The top destination country varied between states and territories in 2023-24:

  • New Zealand was the most popular destination for residents from NSW, Qld, and the ACT
  • Indonesia was the top destination for Vic., SA, WA, Tas., and the NT.

Ten years earlier, in 2013-14, the top destination for Victorian and Tasmanian residents was New Zealand, and the USA was the top destination for residents of the ACT. The top destination remained the same for residents of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

STRR - age and sex

There were more trips taken overseas by Australian males than females in 2023-24 (5,607,800 males compared with 5,378,900 females). Ten years earlier, in 2013-14, there were also more trips taken by males than females (4,732,760 males compared with 4,253,990 females).

In 2023-24, male residents returning to Australia had a median age of 42 years, whereas female residents had a median age of 41 years. When broken down into five-year age groups, more women than men travelled in the age range of 15 to 29 and there were more men than women in all other age groups under 90 years of age.

STRR - main reason for journey

Australian residents returning from overseas are asked to provide the main reason for their journey.

The most common reason for journey in 2023-24 was ‘holiday’, accounting for 58% of overseas trips. This was an increase on 2022-23, when ‘holiday’ accounted for 53% of trips, and on 2018-19 (pre-COVID), when ‘holiday’ accounted for 57% of trips.

  1. As a percentage of all short-term resident returns.

Prior to COVID, ‘holiday’ was the most frequently reported reason for residents returning from overseas trips (57% in 2019). However, due to the impact of the pandemic and travel restrictions, ‘visiting friends and relatives’ became the most frequent reason for journey during that period and reached a peak of 65% in May 2021.

Female residents returning to Australia were more likely than male residents to record their main reason for journey as 'holiday' or 'visiting friends/relatives'. Male residents were more likely to record 'business', ‘conference’ or ‘employment’ than female residents.

  1. Visiting friends/relatives

STRR - duration of stay

The exact duration of stay overseas is measured for Australian residents returning from overseas.

During 2023-24, the median short-term trip duration for Australians travelling overseas was 15 days, which was the same as in 2022-23.

In 2018-19, prior to the pandemic, the median duration of short-term resident trips was 14 days, but median duration of stay increased during the pandemic.

The median duration varied between the states and territories and between the numerous destination countries.

2.13 Short-term resident returns, state/territory of residence - top 10 destination countries(a) - median duration of stay (days) - 2023-24
NSWVic.QldSAWATas.NTACTAust.(b)
UK262727282530292626
India252826282428212726
China(c)222322262222242223
USA161717192020191617
Vietnam161716171517161716
Japan151615161616141515
Thailand121314141215191313
Indonesia1010998119109
New Zealand7891013111398
Fiji78781081177
All countries151615161316141615
  1. Top 10 destination countries have been calculated at the Australia level.
  2. Includes Other Territories.
  3. Excludes SARs and Taiwan.

Residents visiting the UK and India stayed away the longest of the top 10 destination countries, with a median duration of 26 days.

Residents travelling to Fiji had a median duration of 7 days, which was the shortest of the top 10 destination countries.

The duration of stay of short-term trips by Australian residents going overseas varied according to reason for journey. Those travelling for:

  • 'Employment' stayed away the longest (23 days)
  • 'Visiting friends/relatives' (22 days)
  • 'Education' (21 days)
  • 'Holiday' (14 days)
  • 'Business' and 'convention/conference' recorded the shortest stays (8 days).

Enquiries

For enquiries about these and related statistics, contact the Customer Assistance Service via the ABS website Contact Us page. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to the ABS.

Post release changes

14/08/2025 - A post release correction was applied to 'STVA - duration of stay.' The median duration of stay in Australia in 2018-19 was 10 days, not 11 days as previously published. 

Media releases

Number of Aussies travelling overseas reaches pre-COVID levels