India has emerged as the fifth-largest source of tourists for Australia in 2024, registering a 12% increase in arrivals compared to the previous year, a senior Tourism Australia official told PTI. “India continues to be one of our fastest-growing markets, with nearly 443,000 Indians visiting Australia in 2024, marking a 12 per cent increase from the previous year. In 2023, 396,000 Indian travellers came to Australia,” said Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager for India and the Gulf, Tourism Australia.
In terms of inbound tourism, India has climbed to the fifth spot, up from seventh in 2024. “New Zealand remains our largest source market, followed by China, the US, and the UK. India has surpassed Japan and Singapore from pre-COVID levels in 2019 to become the fifth-largest market,” Kashikar added.
Regarding expenditure, Kashikar mentioned that Indians now rank fifth in terms of spends, after China, the US, the UK, and New Zealand.
“Indians not only travel to Australia but also contribute significantly to the economy. In 2024, the total spend from Indian tourists was AUD 2.6 billion, with a per capita expenditure of nearly AUD 6,200,” he explained.
Tourism has benefited from improved connectivity, with 19 direct flights operating weekly between India and Australia, along with the convenience of obtaining visas, particularly for business travellers, Kashikar noted.
“Air India operates daily direct flights from Delhi to Sydney and Melbourne, while Qantas runs five weekly services from Bengaluru to Sydney. Additionally, Malaysia Airlines has enhanced its connectivity, increasing flights from six Indian cities to nearly ten,” he said. When asked about the potential for expanding direct flight connections, he mentioned that Tourism Australia had identified 13 new direct routes based on research from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“We commissioned IATA to conduct research on new potential direct routes between India and Australia, which identified 13 new flights. These include routes like Bombay-Sydney, Delhi-Brisbane, Delhi-Adelaide, Amritsar-Brisbane, and others. These routes could be launched between now and 2030,” he added.
Speaking about visas, Kashikar explained that the process is fully digital and does not require biometrics or interviews. “Visa applications are submitted electronically and processed in about two weeks. Business or MICE travellers can obtain a five-year multiple-entry visa, while tourists are eligible for a three-year multiple-entry visa,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2025, Kashikar shared that Tourism Australia’s focus will be on high-yield Indian travellers, particularly those aged between 24 and 44 years, who tend to stay longer, spend more, and make a significant economic contribution to Australia.
“This year, we are concentrating on attracting MICE travellers, those attending sporting events, and honeymooners,” he said, adding, “We anticipate yet another record year for Tourism Australia in 2025.”