Increasing numbers of people are leaving Australia and never returning, as both inbound and outbound travel continue to recover after sharp declines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows the total number of departures from Australia increased to 1,694,440 in August, which was 11.7% higher than the previous year.
Meanwhile, repatriations of short-term residents reached 916,980, an increase of 6.8% compared to last year.
This means more and more people are choosing to leave and not return to Australia
Total arrivals were 1,656,470, an increase of 7.2% compared to the previous year.
As for travelers to Australia, 658,810 short-term trips were recorded, an increase of 55,450 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year.
This was still 16.5% lower than the pre-COVID level in August 2019.
Where are the Australians going?
Australians made the most return trips from Indonesia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The three countries with the highest number of visitors to Australia were New Zealand, China and Japan.
Australian Travel Industry Association chief executive Dean Long said Australians were “eager to make up for lost time”.
The leader of the travel industry’s peak body said: “Australians have renewed confidence in international travel and are eager to explore destinations near and far.”
“Whether it’s the lure of vibrant cities, natural landscapes or cultural attractions, Australians are traveling more frequently and to a wider range of destinations than we’ve seen in recent years.”