SYDNEY, 15 October 2026: Vietnam has become the fastest-growing major destination for Australian travellers, according to the latest ATIA Travel Trends data.
Australians made 588,490 trips to Vietnam through August 2026, up 17.4%. In August alone, trips jumped 30.3%.
China and Japan are also surging. Trips to China rose 13.1% to 750,870, and Japan is now just shy of one million Australian visitors. Together with Vietnam, they added almost 250,000 trips over the year.
Australians took 12.77 million overseas trips in total, up 3.2%.
The findings come from the ATIA October 2026 Travel Trends Report, based on Australian Bureau of Statistics overseas arrivals and departures data analysed by ATIA. (Reporting period: overseas departures to August 2026).
Asia climbs the rankings
Australians made 750,870 trips to China in the year to August, up 13.1%.
India has also increased in popularity as a destination with 622,820 Australian visitors, up 5.3%.
Vietnam was the fastest-growing major destination, up 17.4% to 588,490 visitors. That leaves it just 60 trips short of the UK, on 588,550.
Favourites hold firm
Indonesia remains Australians’ most popular destination, with 1.81 million trips, up 3.2%. New Zealand follows with 1.50 million, up 5.6%.
Japan ranks third, with 989,240 Australian visitors, up 8.1%.
Classic favourites still in demand
The US and UK remain two of the most popular long-haul destinations for Australians, with 678,390 and 588,550 Australian visitors respectively in the year to August. Both eased on last year, while Asia saw the strongest growth.
Seven of Australia’s top ten destinations grew year on year.
August standouts
Australians made 986,230 overseas trips in August, up 1.5% on the same month last year.
Vietnam led the month, up 30.3% to 45,630 trips. Fiji rose 13.7% to 41,950, Indonesia climbed 10.6% to 178,830, and New Zealand grew 6.6% to 120,830.
Travellers can find an ATIA-accredited travel agent or tour operator at traveltick.com.au.
ATIA Director of Compliance and Membership Nina Hedges commented: “Australians’ appetite for travel keeps growing. Australians took 12.77 million overseas trips over the past year, up 3.2%, with almost 400,000 more journeys than the year before. That’s a strong vote of confidence in travel.
“Asia has become the region Australians can’t get enough of. Travel to China is up more than 13% on last year, and Japan is sitting just shy of one million Australian visitors. That’s a remarkable shift in a short space of time.
“Vietnam is the one to watch. It’s growing faster than any other major destination and sits just 60 trips behind the UK. On current trends, it won’t stay behind for long.
“The US and UK are still important markets, with more than half a million Australians visiting each of them every year. Wherever people are heading, an ATIA-accredited travel agent or tour operator can help them plan with confidence and book with a business that meets the industry’s standards.”
(Source: ATIA www.atia.travel)
