Australia's Inbound Tourism Remains 10% Below 2019 Levels

Key Points

• Australia's inbound tourism remains 10% below 2019 levels, despite a year-over-year increase in holiday trips and strong spending growth, with New Zealand and the UK as top source markets.
• Hotel and tourism markets across Asia-Pacific are seeing robust activity: China hotels report rising occupancy, Vietnam posts strong RevPAR and visitor growth, Macau anticipates high Golden Week arrivals, and South Korea is launching a visa-free program for Chinese tour groups.
• Major hotel brands are expanding across the region, with Marriott, Wyndham, and Hilton opening or renovating properties in the Philippines, Fiji, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Vietnam.

Summary

Australia’s inbound tourism continues to lag pre-pandemic levels, still 10% below June 2019 despite increased spending and visitor numbers, particularly from New Zealand and the UK. Across Asia-Pacific, the hospitality sector is experiencing notable growth, with China, Vietnam, and Macau reporting strong hotel and visitor metrics, and South Korea introducing a visa-free program to attract Chinese tour groups. Global hotel brands such as Marriott, Wyndham, and Hilton are actively expanding, opening new properties and upgrading existing ones throughout the region.