Most popular holiday destination since borders reopened

ABS data reveals where Australians ventured in the first year since the international travel ban lifted.

Diamond Beach on Nusa Penida Island in Bali, Indonesia. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has reached yet another Covid-related milestone: Tuesday, 1 November marks 12 months since the hard overseas travel ban lifted and fully-vaccinated Australians were given the green light to venture overseas without seeking a government exemption.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over five million Australians have made up for lost time and gone overseas since November last year. Of that cohort, 3.3 million people took a short-term trip, which is classified as travel that involves less than 12 months abroad.

June was the busiest month of the year for international departures with almost one million Australians leaving the country on short-term trips, up 71 per cent from May.

With the increased likelihood of flight delays and cancellations as well as lost luggage, a clear post-Covid travel trend has emerged.

Daniel Finch, senior director at Expedia, has noticed that short-haul, single-flight bookings have trumped long-haul journeys with multiple stops.

“Destinations that are just a direct flight away are most popular, with travellers prioritising accessibility and ease over the past year,” he said.

Data collected by travel provider Expedia found that Bali is the most popular destination since borders reopened with London came in second position, followed by Fiji.

“Bali has always been a popular holiday spot for Australians, so it’s no surprise that Bali remains the top destination for travellers since international borders reopened a year ago,” he said.

Trans-Tasman travel has dominated bookings in the last quarter. According to Webjet, 42 per cent of all international flight bookings made from 1 July to 30 September, 2022 were to New Zealand destinations. Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown were all among the top 10 international flights booked within the period, suggesting Australians are opting to staying closer to home while traveling.