Australia’s international travel increases

International travel is on the rise, with provisional data for April 2022 showing 1.2 million international border crossings to and from Australia, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The increase, up from 710,000 border crossings in March 2022, represented a large change from a year ago when there were only 118,000 movements. However, this was still only a third (34 per cent) of the pre-COVID travel seen in April 2019, when there were 3.5 million border crossings.

ABS Director of Migration Statistics, Jenny Dobak, said: “With international borders re-opening in February and the Easter long weekend and school holidays in April, we have seen an increase in arrivals and departures.

“There were 580,000 overseas arrivals and 610,000 overseas departures in April 2022, the largest number of travellers since the start of the pandemic.”

Total overseas arrivals and departures – March 2012 to April 2022(a)

Arrivals (M)Departures (M)
Mar 20121.161.21
Apr 20121.191.22
May 20121.011.11
Jun 20121.101.27
Jul 20121.431.19
Aug 20121.201.24
Sep 20121.251.30
Oct 20121.451.18
Nov 20121.221.25
Dec 20121.321.54
Jan 20131.581.32
Feb 20131.261.09
Mar 20131.241.29
Apr 20131.231.26
May 20131.101.20
Jun 20131.161.34
Jul 20131.511.30
Aug 20131.301.34
Sep 20131.331.38
Oct 20131.531.23
Nov 20131.281.30
Dec 20131.421.68
Jan 20141.741.47
Feb 20141.341.18
Mar 20141.281.30
Apr 20141.331.41
May 20141.191.27
Jun 20141.181.42
Jul 20141.591.34
Aug 20141.361.43
Sep 20141.381.41
Oct 20141.571.30
Nov 20141.341.36
Dec 20141.461.71
Jan 20151.781.49
Feb 20151.421.24
Mar 20151.391.45
Apr 20151.371.41
May 20151.221.31
Jun 20151.231.46
Jul 20151.651.43
Aug 20151.421.45
Sep 20151.461.48
Oct 20151.651.40
Nov 20151.421.44
Dec 20151.581.85
Jan 20161.911.64
Feb 20161.561.37
Mar 20161.481.54
Apr 20161.471.49
May 20161.301.39
Jun 20161.331.58
Jul 20161.831.57
Aug 20161.511.55
Sep 20161.591.60
Oct 20161.781.50
Nov 20161.511.54
Dec 20161.721.99
Jan 20172.071.78
Feb 20171.631.39
Mar 20171.521.58
Apr 20171.651.71
May 20171.401.49
Jun 20171.421.67
Jul 20171.911.65
Aug 20171.621.66
Sep 20171.671.70
Oct 20171.881.57
Nov 20171.601.64
Dec 20171.762.08
Jan 20182.131.81
Feb 20181.731.52
Mar 20181.681.74
Apr 20181.671.71
May 20181.481.56
Jun 20181.511.79
Jul 20182.011.73
Aug 20181.721.77
Sep 20181.721.76
Oct 20181.961.64
Nov 20181.671.72
Dec 20181.852.18
Jan 20192.221.91
Feb 20191.791.52
Mar 20191.661.68
Apr 20191.671.83
May 20191.591.63
Jun 20191.561.80
Jul 20192.011.76
Aug 20191.781.81
Sep 20191.751.80
Oct 20191.981.68
Nov 20191.721.74
Dec 20191.892.24
Jan 20202.261.97
Feb 20201.571.29
Mar 20200.920.83
Apr 20200.020.06
May 20200.020.03
Jun 20200.030.04
Jul 20200.020.06
Aug 20200.010.06
Sep 20200.020.05
Oct 20200.020.05
Nov 20200.030.04
Dec 20200.030.05
Jan 20210.030.04
Feb 20210.030.03
Mar 20210.030.03
Apr 20210.050.06
May 20210.110.11
Jun 20210.100.10
Jul 20210.070.09
Aug 20210.030.04
Sep 20210.020.03
Oct 20210.020.04
Nov 20210.070.09
Dec 20210.200.23
Jan 20220.270.19
Feb 20220.270.18
Mar 20220.370.34
Apr 20220.580.61

(a) Provisional data for the most recent month has not had the full quality assurance methods applied as is done for the earlier months. Provisional estimates will be revised in the next issue of this publication.

On 21 February 2022, remaining travel restrictions were removed and the Australian border opened to tourists and other international travellers. Detailed data available for March 2022 shows 162,000 visitors arriving in Australia for a short-term trip. The majority (63 per cent) indicated their main reason for travel was visiting friends or family.

The largest source country for short-term visitors arriving in March were from the UK (27,000), followed by New Zealand (19,000) and India (15,000).

The states with the highest number of visitors arriving for a short-term trip were New South Wales (59,000) and Victoria (45,000).

Short-term visitor arrivals, State or territory of stay - March 2022

/ABS Public Release. View in full here.