Decline in Australian Travel to the US Amid Economic and Safety Concerns
A combination of safety concerns, a weak Australian dollar, and changes in travel preferences are influencing Australians' visitation to the United States.
Recent data indicates a decline in Australian travel to the United States, though varying statistics highlight the complexity of the situation.
According to preliminary figures from the US government's International Trade Administration, there were 59,859 Australian visitors to the US in March 2024, representing a 7.1 per cent decrease from 64,418 visitors in March 2023. In total, 201,867 Australians have arrived in the US in 2024, approximately 1,500 fewer than the same time frame last year.
Contrarily, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests an increase in travel.
The ABS reported that 55,870 Australians returned from the US in March 2025, up from 50,650 during the previous year period.
Experts attribute the discrepancy in numbers to diverse data collection methodologies.
Professor Sarah Gardiner from the Griffith Institute for Tourism noted that ABS data relies on entry tracking through international airports, while the US might utilize survey data, leading to variability.
A national survey involving 1,509 Australians aged 18 to 65 revealed a decline in planned trips to the US from March to May compared to the same period in the previous year.
The Tourism and Transport Forum’s quarterly poll ranked the US as the fifth most popular international destination for autumn 2024, with only 8 per cent of respondents intending to travel there, a drop from 6 per cent this autumn, positioning the US at seventh place among overseas travel destinations.
Professor Sara Dolnicar from the University of Queensland suggested that while immediate interest has waned, it is anticipated to rebound as travel sentiments shift.
She emphasized that potential travellers frequently reevaluate their decisions in response to changing safety, currency, and environmental conditions.
The Australian Travel Industry Association’s CEO, Dean Long, corroborated a downturn in interest towards US travel in recent months, citing high costs in comparison to destinations in Southeast Asia and Europe.
The Australian dollar's exchange rate dipped below 60 US cents, marking its lowest since April 2020, further influencing travel decisions.
External factors, including heightened security and immigration policies from the US, have also contributed to hesitance among international travellers.
Tourism Economics indicated that these measures have amplified negative sentiment, affecting the willingness of potential visitors.
Overall, the US tourism sector is witnessing declines in visitor numbers from various countries.
The UK, the largest source of tourists to the US, experienced a 14.3 per cent decline, while visitor numbers from Germany decreased by 28.2 per cent.
Other countries, such as Spain and Ireland, saw reductions of 24.6 percent and 26.9 per cent, respectively.
In contrast, a few nations have reported modest growth in US tourism, including Japan, Brazil, and Italy, which grew by 3.6 per cent, 6.1 per cent, and 3.4 per cent, respectively.
According to preliminary figures from the US government's International Trade Administration, there were 59,859 Australian visitors to the US in March 2024, representing a 7.1 per cent decrease from 64,418 visitors in March 2023. In total, 201,867 Australians have arrived in the US in 2024, approximately 1,500 fewer than the same time frame last year.
Contrarily, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests an increase in travel.
The ABS reported that 55,870 Australians returned from the US in March 2025, up from 50,650 during the previous year period.
Experts attribute the discrepancy in numbers to diverse data collection methodologies.
Professor Sarah Gardiner from the Griffith Institute for Tourism noted that ABS data relies on entry tracking through international airports, while the US might utilize survey data, leading to variability.
A national survey involving 1,509 Australians aged 18 to 65 revealed a decline in planned trips to the US from March to May compared to the same period in the previous year.
The Tourism and Transport Forum’s quarterly poll ranked the US as the fifth most popular international destination for autumn 2024, with only 8 per cent of respondents intending to travel there, a drop from 6 per cent this autumn, positioning the US at seventh place among overseas travel destinations.
Professor Sara Dolnicar from the University of Queensland suggested that while immediate interest has waned, it is anticipated to rebound as travel sentiments shift.
She emphasized that potential travellers frequently reevaluate their decisions in response to changing safety, currency, and environmental conditions.
The Australian Travel Industry Association’s CEO, Dean Long, corroborated a downturn in interest towards US travel in recent months, citing high costs in comparison to destinations in Southeast Asia and Europe.
The Australian dollar's exchange rate dipped below 60 US cents, marking its lowest since April 2020, further influencing travel decisions.
External factors, including heightened security and immigration policies from the US, have also contributed to hesitance among international travellers.
Tourism Economics indicated that these measures have amplified negative sentiment, affecting the willingness of potential visitors.
Overall, the US tourism sector is witnessing declines in visitor numbers from various countries.
The UK, the largest source of tourists to the US, experienced a 14.3 per cent decline, while visitor numbers from Germany decreased by 28.2 per cent.
Other countries, such as Spain and Ireland, saw reductions of 24.6 percent and 26.9 per cent, respectively.
In contrast, a few nations have reported modest growth in US tourism, including Japan, Brazil, and Italy, which grew by 3.6 per cent, 6.1 per cent, and 3.4 per cent, respectively.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
