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Authentic Australia Vacation Experiences

Honeymoon australia.

Romantic stays and exciting tours in key Australia locations.

Australia Lifestyle Holidays

Experience some of Australia's best lifestyle attractions.

Family Holiday Australia

Family time in Australia with children friendly stays and activities.

Your Key Benefits With Us...

• Proven Local Knowledge
• Talk with Real People
• Planning & Reservation
• Loaded Free Travel App

Easy & Personalised Travel Planning steps...

1. Step: View our Sample Australia Holiday Itineraries – you can 'mix and match' them! 2. Step: Receive and review your very own personalised Travel Itinerary & Quote Proposal. 3. Step: Communicate with Michael Nees, your local travel expert (by Email, Phone, Skype).

Audrey Mothupi & Family travellers

Michael truly is the best ! Planned an amazing 20 day trip to Australia and New Zealand and we are just at the tail end heading home soon. Everything was just as he described ! A truly seamless perfect family holiday, tailored to our needs - thanks to Michael ! Don’t hesitate ... just contact Michael and then look forward to the best holiday ever!

Lisa Mansour & Family

If you are planning a trip to Australia, and are anxious about seeing it all and doing it right, look no further than Michael Nees! He will plan the most perfect vacation and take the stress away from you. We traveled from the US, and had 10 days to enjoy as much as we could of Australia. It was the trip of a lifetime! Sydney, Blue Mountains, Port Douglas/Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, and Melbourne all in 10 days and the way that Michael arranged tours and flights, it never felt like we were rushed or on the move too much. Just the right amount of planned activities and free time. We can't wait to plan a New Zealand trip and will definitely use Michael and GUEST.

Mike & Megan Family

Let me start out with thank you!!! It was a trip of a lifetime, we can’t put into words the how amazing the experience was. Your work towards our trip was fantastic and we would be honoured to be listed as a reference for folks looking for a similar journey. You did a wonderful job relating to our needs. We had some really neat pictures of the Koala bears in the Daintree experience, our guide for the day called the outfit after we left and requested they email them to me. We are now home and back to the grindstone. The girls have informed me we definitely need to plan on another trip in similar fashion. Thanks again Mike & Megan and family.

Mindy Ross – Lifestyle Travellers

I hired Michael to design a trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was important to me to use someone local and with deep knowledge of the areas to be traveled. Michael was spot on with respect to the resulting itinerary, duration, accommodations, and activities. The flow of the trip was just the right combination of relaxation and adventure. Each and every accomodation was off the hook fabulous. The amount of time in each place was perfect and the daily activities were memorable and perfectly suited to our wish list. I highly recommend Michael as a travel designer for the best down under vacation imaginable!!

Garrett & Ana – Honeymooners

I cannot thank Michael enough for helping us plan a memorable honeymoon in New Zealand, our trip was flawless and Michael's support throughout was incredible. A true professional, German efficiency delivered in a Kiwi friendly manner! Specifics would be Michael’s organisation skills and dedication to helping us plan our holiday. Michael took numerous skype calls to explain and clarify things and was an incredible guiding hand in helping us decide where we stayed and what we did. During our time in New Zealand, Michael was always on hand to support and deal with any issues to help our holiday run smoothly. Taking a phone call late in the evening to rearrange a trip early the following morning is one case that springs to mind. There are few people I know who would have the dedication to ring you at 7am the following morning to make sure everything is okay! I cannot recommend Michael enough. Anyone who is planning a trip to New Zealand would do well to just sit back and let Michael take care of things. You are in safe, professional hands.

Susan & Robert Lunson – Lifestyle Travellers

My husband and I have just returned from 28 days in Australia and New Zealand. We have traveled independently and as part of tours. For this trip we decided to try working with a travel company. I stumbled upon Guest New Zealand and was most impressed with the reviews where people mentioned if they had a problem, a phone to Michael fixed it right away. That sold me on working with him, even before I met him. Michael did not disappoint. He put together a great itinerary that had us in 5 cities in Australia and driving both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The B & B's were wonderful, the staffs attentive. The hotels were first class. And the tours were varied and fascinating, with enough time on our own for miles and miles of walking discovery. Every detail was covered. Michael always returned our calls promptly and always seemed to be smiling on the other end of the call. We would love to return and if and when we do, Michael will be planning our next trip. The next one will include train rides, ok, Michael?

What Our Customers Say

Michael truly is the best ! Planned an amazing 20 day trip to Australia and New Zealand and we are just at the tail end heading home soon. Everything was just as - Read more...

- Audrey Mothupi & Family travellers

If you are planning a trip to Australia, and are anxious about seeing it all and doing it right, look no further than Michael Nees! He will plan the most perfect - Read more...

- Lisa Mansour & Family

Let me start out with thank you!!! It was a trip of a lifetime, we can’t put into words the how amazing the experience was. Your work towards our trip was fantast - Read more...

- Mike & Megan Family

I hired Michael to design a trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was important to me to use someone local and with deep knowledge of the areas to be traveled. Mi - Read more...

- Mindy Ross – Lifestyle Travellers

I cannot thank Michael enough for helping us plan a memorable honeymoon in New Zealand, our trip was flawless and Michael's support throughout was incredible. A t - Read more...

- Garrett & Ana – Honeymooners

My husband and I have just returned from 28 days in Australia and New Zealand. We have traveled independently and as part of tours. For this trip we decided to tr - Read more...

- Susan & Robert Lunson – Lifestyle Travellers

We are Travellers, just like you!

We personally visit the regions and places we list

Over the past 20 years I have been travelling through Australia visiting key sites. It’s been my passion and commitment to find hidden beautiful places to stay, plus unique and authentic activities. Australia is full of hidden secrets! Guest Australia will definitely make your Australia trip planning easy and fun.  Let us help you find an authentic travel experience to make lasting wonderful memories.

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Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in Australia 2024/2025

Top Tour Operators and Travel Agencies in Australia. Below you will find 19 of the best tour operators and travel agencies in Australia offering in total 194 tours and holidays through-out Australia. Combined they have received 68 customer reviews and an average rating of 5 out of 5 stars. The top tour activities offered in Australia are: Adventure and sport, Wildlife, landscapes and nature & Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history.

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20 Tour Operators in Australia with 68 Reviews

G Adventures

• Address G Adventures Ltd, 60 Bastwick Street, London, England
• Response Rate 90%
• Response Time 3 hours

• Best-in-Class Top 5% of companies
• Excellent Service Top 10% of companies
• Superior Service Top 15% of companies

Luxury Gold

• Address 33 Kern Road, Toronto, Canada
• Response Rate 60%
• Response Time 1 hour

• Address 38-51 Bedford Way, London, England
• Response Rate 88%
• Response Time 2 hours

Picture This Ballooning

• Address 12 Pilgrim Court , Ringwood, Australia
• Response Rate 33%

Runaway Tours

• Address 2 - 12 Bourke Rd, Alexandria, Sydney, Australia
• Response Rate 0%

Indus Travels

• Address 233, 11951 Hammersmith Way, Richmond, Canada
• Response Rate 98%

Mojosurf Travel

• Address 18 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay NSW , Australia

Exodus Travels

• Address Grange Mills, Weir Road, London, England
• Response Rate 85%

• Address 6 Fife Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey,, London , England
• Response Rate 83%

Collette Tours

• Address 162 Middle Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA
• Response Rate 84%

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours

• Address 15/56 Pitt St, Sydney, Australia
• Response Rate 74%

• Response Rate 92%

Intrepid Travel

• Address 380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia

Traveling to Australia? Chat with a local travel specialist in Australia who can help organize your trip.

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Best Australia Tour Companies

Search 140 Australia tour operators and travel companies, with 292 reviews.

G Adventures

Featured Australia Trips

Intrepid Travel

Health Safety +

All Australia Tour Companies

Australia tour companies range from global to boutique operators. Tours in Australia often focus on the native culture and outdoor activities. They are also commonly combined with New Zealand. Australia is a large country and most tours are generally a week+.

Exodus Travels

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SITA World Tours

Discover Corps

Great Canadian Trails

Deep Sea Divers Den

Bunyip Tours

EverGreen Escapes

INTRO Travel

Indus Travels

Discovery Nomads

Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T. Tours)

140 match your criteria (1 - 20 shown)

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Australia Reviews & Ratings

Christopher

I highly recommend Intrepid tours.

The two Intrepid treks I’ve been on (Peru and Papua New Guinea) are run by local people, and they took me to local places. I learnt something about locals’ lives; an...

Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!!

This trip was probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but the feeling of accomplishment once arriving at Owers' Corner can't be beaten. The porters are amazing ...

Doing the Kokoda track was an amazing

Doing the Kokoda track was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone and there were many good things about the intrepid group however there were a few t...

The Kokoda Track trip was fantastic. It

The Kokoda Track trip was fantastic. It was very different to any other trip previously taken. The history and local knowledge was fabulous and the small trekking gr...

Trusted Customer

The Northwest Passage - M/V Sylvia Earle

Beechy island, seeingpolar bears . Greenland .

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Australian Visa and Entry Requirements FAQs

Learn about visa requirements for entry to Australia for tourism purposes with this list of frequently asked questions. 

Please note this page is intended to provide general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority. For information on visas to enter Australia, visitors should seek the most up-to-date information from Australian Government Department of Home Affairs .*

Ready to plan your trip? We're ready to welcome you! Here are some helpful tips for getting your visa sorted: 

• Be sure to secure the appropriate visa before travelling to Australia. Use the Visa Finder to explore your options.
• Ensure all details are correct and provide all required documents when you apply. An incomplete or incorrect application can delay your visa.
• Submitting multiple applications at the same time can slow the process. For visitor visas, submit one application per person, including children. 
• Questions? The Australian Government's Global Service Centre can help.

Australian Visa Information

Unless you are an Australian citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the  Department of Home Affairs website.

There are different Australian visa types available for travellers to Australia. Knowing which Australian visa to apply for depends on the length of your stay, your passport and the purpose of your visit. You’ll also need to meet certain financial and medical requirements, be outside of Australia when applying and maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay. 

Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is  here .

All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. Agents can assist you in the application process, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required.

eVisitor  (subclass 651) This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.

Visitor visa  (subclass 600) The Visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes. It is open to all nationalities. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.

The application process may differ depending on which visa you need.

You can only apply for the  Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) through the Australian ETA app. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is located  here .

For other visas, you can apply online by creating an ImmiAccount and completing the application process. Be sure to submit your application well in advance of your travel date to allow enough time for processing. You may be asked to provide further supporting information. You will be notified in writing if your tourist visa is approved and it will be digitally linked to your passport. For more information on different visa types, and Australian visa requirements including how to apply for an Australian visa, visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website.

If you are already in Australia and hold a valid Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) you can extend your stay by applying for another visa, such as a Visitor visa (subclass 600). An eVisitor (subclass 651) cannot be extended.

See the Department of Home Affairs website for details.

Working Holiday Visas

Australia's Working Holiday Maker program allows visitors aged under 30 (or 35 in certain cases) who hold a passport from a participating country to travel and work in Australia. Working holiday visas are valid for one year, or up to three years if you meet certain conditions.

Find out more about working holiday visas here .

*Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check this information is still current by visiting the Australian Department of Home Affairs .

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We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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About Australia’s Vacation Planning Experts Are Here to Help

Thinking about turning your dream of visiting Australia into a reality? Lucky for you, we are native Aussies and the experts when it comes to booking Australian travel! We provide you with the opportunity to choose your own itinerary and customize your Australia trip exactly to your liking. Start off by deciding whether you want to travel to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, or even a combination of these countries. We can help you make the decision based on what you want out of your Australian experience.

Choose an Itinerary or Create a Fully Custom Trip

You can choose from a number of vacation styles including independent, self-drive & guided tours. There are a vast number of things to see and do in Australia, so it helps if you make a wishlist of what you want to accomplish. Once you have a feel for what you hope to see and do, we have the opportunity to really help you out. We’ll make recommendations about the best cities, tours, and places to visit during your trip. We’ll guide you through your options so you can make informed decisions. We want to make sure you fully understand your choices so you’re delighted with the final itinerary!

To begin, choose from one of our many itineraries and tell us any adjustments you would like to make. Or, if you would like a totally custom vacation, call or email our team to begin the planning process. With our ‘modular’ itineraries we can easily customize any travel package by swapping day tours, switching hotels for upgrades, or adding/removing destinations based on your preferences – its easy! If you’re having any trouble deciding, just contact us and we’ll weigh through the pros and cons to ultimately help you make a decision.

We Take Care of the Travel Details For You

We even help you work through the trickier details of planning your Australian vacation like selecting the right accommodation, day tours, routing, flights, transfers, visas and trip insurance. We know that working out the finer details of any vacation can be stressful, so we’ll help you plan everything so you get the most ‘bang-for-your-buck’. Once your trip design looks perfect, we’ll book it for you. The only thing left for you to do is go on vacation and have a fantastic time! Whether you’re on a budget or you’re planning a luxury getaway, we’re here to help you plan the trip of a lifetime!

Get-A-Trip-Quote or Phone us Toll Free on 1-888-3592877 (CT USA, M-F 8.30am – 5pm).

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Customers rate Zicasso's travel referral service  5  on a scale of 1 to 5 based on  1537  reviews on Trustpilot

We match you with top tour companies that specialize in the trip you want,  whether it's a customized private tour or a group tour.

We are passionate about crafting extraordinary custom tours. That's why we match discerning travelers to the top Australia travel agents who excel at planning dream trips down under.  Our meticulous matching process begins by understanding your travel priorities for Australia. We then connect you with travel agencies in Australia who design custom itineraries around the experiences you value most.  With local know-how, our Australia travel agencies provide access to secluded beaches, private wildlife encounters, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Let us match you with an Australia specialist to plan your adventure.

Discover our Australia travel agents, the top 10% of local specialists

We are passionate about crafting extraordinary custom tours. That's why we match discerning travelers to the top Australia travel agents who excel at planning dream trips down under. 

Our meticulous matching process begins by understanding your travel priorities for Australia. We then connect you with travel agencies in Australia who design custom itineraries around the experiences you value most. 

With local know-how, our Australia travel agencies provide access to secluded beaches, private wildlife encounters, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Let us match you with an Australia specialist to plan your adventure.

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Zicasso in the News

David's Travel Agency

 Based on  138  reviews

Destinations:

Verified review.

We had incredibly special tours. Zicasso’s travel agent listened and found tours to meet all of our interests.

Kate's Travel Agency

 Based on  88  reviews

Zicasso's travel partner put together an extraordinary travel experience for us. Australia and New Zealand met and, in some instances, exceeded our expectations. In planning this trip, we requested certain experiences and they came through with those that were accomplishable within our time available and resources. This was truly a trip of a lifetime.

Dick's Travel Agency

 Based on  243  reviews

From the beginning, we were very impressed with our Zicasso travel agent's service. She planned a six-week trip to New Zealand and Australia, and in less than 10 days, it was finalized. She listened to our wants, limitations, and budget, and found some great accommodations, tours, and transportation. Every flight and rental car reservation went smoothly, and many times were better than expected. We only had a couple of issues and they were due to weather. She quickly went to work on refunds. All our questions were answered very quickly. I enjoyed the app.

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Danielle 's Travel Agency

 Based on  4  reviews

Zicasso’s travel company was responsive, easy to work with, and created a fantastic itinerary for me and my extended family. When things did not go as expected, they responded quickly and adjusted things as needed. I would highly recommend them.

Roseann's Travel Agency

 Based on  241  reviews

Our Zicasso travel specialist provided us with an itinerary that exceeded all of our expectations. Her knowledge, recommendations, professional attitude, and succinct communications created an adventure that enabled us to enjoy a trip of a lifetime free from worry, stress, or disappointment. Every accommodation, excursion, travel transfer, and gracious attendant was absolutely faultless and beyond compare. Additionally, our travel company, according to the research we did prior to contracting with them, saved us money! We are grateful to our travel specialist for her keen attention and kindness. We highly recommend this company.

Rick's Travel Agency

 Based on  167  reviews

From our very first interaction with our Zicasso travel agent, he understood our needs and goals for this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. As two couples, we all had slightly different ideas and interests for this vacation, and he was able to weave together a unique, carefully choreographed, and compelling itinerary covering so many highlights across New Zealand, including an eco-lodge on Marlborough Sound, a small plane excursion, an overnight on Milford Sound, and amazing pampering on Waiheke Island, just to name a few. We had such memorable experiences and were able to truly appreciate the scope and beauty of this amazing country. Our agent's guidance was spot-on. We did have a few glitches along the way, as happens while traveling (flight being canceled, hotel mix-ups, for example), and despite the hefty time difference with our travel agent based in the US, he was absolutely available to help us troubleshoot these issues, none of which were due to his careful planning. We were extremely appreciative of his support during those few trying moments. None of these inconveniences greatly impacted our trip, but without his help, they could have really derailed our plans. These are the times that test the mettle of a travel specialist, and he certainly passed that test. He worked to refund us for canceled excursions and helped us navigate airline websites and schedules to get back on track as easily as possible. Two of us continued on to Australia after our three weeks in New Zealand, and that only enhanced an already unforgettable vacation. Kangaroo Island was an absolute highlight and delight in every possible way. Many thanks to Zicasso's travel partner for creating this incredible experience for all of us.

Steven's Travel Agency

 Based on  152  reviews

Zicasso’s travel agency did an outstanding job organizing our four-week adventure trip. Our agent provided us with helpful information and listened well. We felt she truly “got us” and came up with an itinerary that was a good fit for our personalities, physical activity levels, interests, and priorities. The trip was terrific. It is impossible to single out a favorite experience because there were so many highlights. We had a good balance between experiencing nature in beautiful places, as well as art and culture. There were several opportunities to get up close and personal with wildlife that is exotic to us North Americans, both in the wild and at wildlife refuges. We enjoyed many boat rides, including, but not limited to, a sailboat cruise around Sydney Harbour, a boat ride along the rugged coast of Bruny Island in Tasmania, and a ride in the ferry to and from the MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart. The agency booked us in comfortable, good lodgings in good locations, mostly hotels, but notably a bed and breakfast on a family farm on Kangaroo Island, where the owner provided dinner and breakfast, and could have been a five-star chef. Any enterprise that lasts for four weeks is bound to have a few glitches. None of the few we experienced were the fault of our travel agency and they were all relatively minor. Most importantly, whenever the agency became aware of an issue, they were always attentive and helpful, and managed to resolve the matter in real time and to our satisfaction.

Sharon's Travel Agency

 Based on  790  reviews

We just returned from a fantastic trip to New Zealand and Australia planned for us by Zicasso’s travel agent. From the very beginning, she did a great job turning our general ideas and interests into a fun and full travel plan that flowed very well. As we fine-tuned the plan, our agent was quick to offer options on activities, accommodations, and flight schedules so we could tailor our final choices to get the most out of our trip. She had excellent foresight in timing our sequence of destinations to take advantage of the most direct flights. In the days leading up to our departure, our agent was very accessible and efficient in answering any questions that arose. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking to plan a trip to New Zealand and/or Australia.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

*Disclaimer:  The information on this website is presented in good faith and on the basis that Tourism Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given in this website. Tourism Australia wishes to advise people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent that this website may contain images of persons now deceased.

International tourist figures still millions below pre-COVID levels as slow recovery continues

For two years, Marcela Ribeiro worked three jobs to save for her dream holiday to Australia.

Like millions of people across the globe, the 35-year-old from Brazil had long wanted to explore the country's world-famous destinations, specifically the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage-listed rainforest and sandy beaches. 

"I worked really, really hard, many jobs, to get here," Ms Ribeiro said.  

"The flights were very expensive, so I have to watch everything I spend. I can't afford to eat out in the restaurants every day." 

It's been a similar story for William Grbava from Canada and Amelia Mondido from the Philippines, who last week arrived in Australia for a holiday. 

"It's expensive here, much more than we were expecting. We have only been able to factor in a short stop in Sydney," Mr Grbava said. 

"We just had a beer and a pizza in Circular Quay for $50.

 "What I really wanted to do was drive up the coast to Brisbane, through Byron Bay and those beautiful towns. That's what I did when I was younger. But with the cost of fuel and car rental, it wasn't possible." 

Industry yet to recover to pre-COVID levels 

It's been more than four years since Australia's borders suddenly closed to the rest of the world and became one of the most isolated destinations on the globe. 

COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the country's economy, but nowhere was the pain as instant or more devastating as in the tourism industry. 

In 2019, 8.7 million tourists visited Australia from overseas in an industry that was worth $166 billion. 

New figures from Tourism Research Australia show there were only 6.6 million international visitors last year, a deficit of more than 2 million compared to 2019 levels.  

Victoria experienced the largest loss in international visits at 33 per cent, followed by Queensland at 24 per cent and New South Wales at 22 per cent. 

Nationally, Chinese visitor numbers — which made up the bulk of visitors to Australia pre-pandemic — slumped to 507,000 last year, down from 1.3 million in 2019. 

Figures for the month of February show more than 850,000 people visited Australia, an increase of 257,000 for the same time in 2023, but 7.5 per cent less than pre-COVID levels. 

Gui Lohmann from Griffith University's Institute for Tourism said there were a number of reasons for the slow return of international visitors. 

"The airfares are significantly high and we are under an inflationary situation with labour and food costs," Professor Lohmann said. 

"It could be challenging for Australia to reach above 8 million international visitors in the scenario we are in at the moment." 

Professor Lohmann said cost-of-living pressures were also at play in the return of international tourists, as was a "reset" in European thinking.  

"Many Europeans believe a long-haul trip is quite damaging to the environment and they're also flying less generally," he said. 

"Their domestic airline routes no longer exist [and] have been replaced by train trips." 

He said China's ongoing economic problems, the war in Ukraine and United States' election were also having an impact.  

"It's a much more complicated world we are facing after the pandemic," he said. 

A long road to recovery 

Oxford Economics has forecast it could take until 2025-26 before Australian tourism returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Tourism Australia, a government agency that promotes holidays, said the strongest markets since borders reopened had been New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. 

"We always knew that the recovery of international travel to Australia would take time, and we have continued to see the steady return of international visitors to our shores," a spokeswoman said. 

Maneka Jayasinghe, a tourism expert at Charles Darwin University, said affordability was a key factor in attracting visitors Down Under.  

She said the state and federal governments should consider subsidising travel to Australia. 

"Measures to reduce costs, such as discounted hotel prices, tourism package deals and food vouchers could be of importance to encourage visitors to Australia," Dr Jayasinghe said. 

"Tourism operators were badly hit during COVID so may not be in a financially viable position to provide further perks to visitors, especially the small-scale operators in smaller states and territories and those operating in remote areas." 

She said re-establishing links with traditional tourism markets, including Japan, was also a potential solution. 

"Countries with a rapidly growing middle class, such as India, could have high potential to grow. Some of the south-east Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia, could also be attractive due to their proximity to Australia." 

Dutch tourists Tim Erentsen and Laleh Maleki estimated it would cost them around $16,000 for their three-week holiday in Australia, where they are visiting Sydney, the Whitsundays and Cairns. 

"It has been expensive, especially the flights," Mr Erentsen said. 

Ms Maleki said the couple had travelled extensively throughout Europe and the US and the cost of hotels and food in Australia was comparable. 

"We thought if we were coming all this way and spending the money to get here, we should stay a bit longer, which is adding to the cost," Ms Maleki said. 

But despite that extra cost, she said the trip had been worth it. 

"We love the nature, it feels very safe here. The food is so good and the people are very friendly." 

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Three Tourism Australia employees fired for holidaying with $137k of taxpayer funds

By anton nilsson.

A senior Tourism Australia employee and two of their China-based colleagues were fired last year for blowing $137,441 of taxpayer money on personal holiday trips.

The federal agency became aware of the incident on October 20 last year and made the trio pay back the money, but managed to keep the incident out of the headlines until now.

“Each had undertaken personal travel booked and paid through Tourism Australia’s travel agent,” a spokesperson said when contacted by  Crikey. 

“The individuals involved have paid Tourism Australia back the full amount and they are no longer with the organisation.”

Inside the agency, and in the tourism industry more broadly, news of the incident travelled quickly after the firings were announced at an all-staff meeting in December, sources said.

“It was shocking. It felt like a slap in the face to a lot of people,” one of the sources said. “Most people in Tourism Australia absolutely do the right thing, are passionate about their jobs, and take seriously that it’s taxpayer money we’re dealing with.”

A current and a former Tourism Australia employee told  Crikey that one of the people who was fired was a senior staff member who worked out of offices in Australia. The other two sacked employees were more junior and based in China, the sources said.  Crikey  contacted both junior ex-staffers for comment but didn’t hear back.

Tourism Australia refused to confirm or deny that the senior employee was one of the people let go, citing  Privacy Act  obligations, but acknowledged it has a new staff member acting in that role and said it plans to recruit for the same role “in due course”. The person acting in the role lists January 2024 as their start date on their LinkedIn page, and they were recruited externally.

An email sent to the Tourism Australia address of the senior employee in March was answered with an automatic message that said “[they] no longer [work] at Tourism Australia”.

The senior employee declined to comment when reached on the phone by  Crikey  last week.

Tourism Australia does not appear to have posted job advertisements for the person’s job and made no public announcement about what had happened.

But managing director Philippa Harrison told an all-staff meeting on December 7 about a “breach of policies” and announced the senior staffer’s departure, a source said. The Tourism Australia spokesperson said “all TA staff were reminded of their obligations under TA policies” at the meeting.

It’s not clear how the trio was caught, but  Crikey  understands agency teams are regularly audited.

After the breach was discovered on October 20, the agency did a sweep of its records, the spokesperson said: “Tourism Australia moved swiftly to conduct a comprehensive review of travel records, dating back several years, and found no further policy breaches.”

Tourism Australia said “all reporting obligations were complied with” but refused to go into specifics about any referrals made.

The federal agency, which is responsible for promoting Australia as a tourist destination, employs 186 staff and has offices in Sydney, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK and the US.

It’s most famous for the 2006 ad campaign “So where the bloody hell are you?”, which it launched under the managing directorship of future prime minister Scott Morrison.

Its current flagship campaign is tag-lined “Come and say g’day” and features a mascot called Ruby the Roo. It’s reported to have cost $125 million.

This article is reproduced from our sister publication Crikey.

Challenge to find fresh takes on Australian stereotypes, says Tourism Australia CMO

Anton Nilsson is Crikey's federal political reporter.

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Tourism forecasts for Australia

Summarises the outlook for domestic and international tourism in Australia.

Main content

Tourism forecasts for australia 2023 to 2028.

TRA produces tourism forecasts for Australia. This year, we produced:

• international forecasts at the national level and for many markets and purposes of travel
• domestic forecasts at the national level and for each state and territory. 

The forecasts cover the 5-year forward period, 2023 to 2028, on a calendar year basis. Forecast data are available to download at the bottom of this page.

The report contains a written summary and analysis of the forecast data. It presents an overview of the outlook and discusses the drivers and implications of the projected path forward for the tourism sector. It also notes some key risks to the forecasts.

Download the report

Tourism forecasts for Australia 2023-2028

Visitor economy outlook

The report forecasts a positive outlook for the visitor economy. In the next 5 years, we predict both international and domestic tourism will continue to grow. We expect:

• international travel to Australia will exceed its pre-pandemic level in 2025 
• international spend in Australia will exceed its pre-pandemic level in 2024
• domestic travel will stabilise in 2023, after strong growth in 2022
• domestic tourism spend, which already exceeds its pre-pandemic level, will continue to rise
• domestic tourism nights in all states and territories will recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Our forecasting method

TRA produces forecasts using a hybrid, evidence-based approach. This method combines data-based analysis and modelling with expert judgement. Insights from the Tourism Forecasting Expert Panel are a critical component of TRA’s forecasting process. The Panel:

• offers long-standing support for TRA’s forecasting work
• is a source of broad-based, respected and constructive intelligence that informs the tourism forecasts
• comprises academics, industry and government specialists, and representatives from the state and territory tourism organisations
• provided input to this year’s forecasting work through survey responses, high-level discussions, and feedback on draft forecast data.

Download the data

Domestic forecasts 2023-2028 data tables

International forecasts 2023-2028 data tables

Contact TRA

mail   tourism.research@tra.gov.au

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Tourism forecasts 2022-2027, tourism forecasts 2021-2026, related content, domestic tourism results.

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Three Tourism Australia employees fired for holidaying with $137k of taxpayer funds

Exclusive: The federal agency fired three staff in October, including a senior employee, but managed to keep the incident out of the headlines until now. 

Anton Nilsson

Apr 18, 2024

A senior Tourism Australia employee and two of their China-based colleagues were fired last year for blowing $137,441 of taxpayer money on personal holiday trips, Crikey can reveal.  

The federal agency became aware of the incident on October 20 last year and made the trio pay back the money, but managed to keep the incident out of the headlines until now. 

“Each had undertaken personal travel booked and paid through Tourism Australia’s travel agent,” a spokesperson said when contacted by Crikey. 

“The individuals involved have paid Tourism Australia back the full amount and they are no longer with the organisation.”

Inside the agency, and in the tourism industry more broadly, news of the incident travelled quickly after the firings were announced at an all-staff meeting in December, sources said. 

“It was shocking. It felt like a slap in the face to a lot of people,” one of the sources told Crikey . “Most people in Tourism Australia absolutely do the right thing, are passionate about their jobs, and take seriously that it’s taxpayer money we’re dealing with.” 

A current and a former Tourism Australia employee told Crikey one of the people who was fired was a senior staff member who worked out of offices in Australia. The other two sacked employees were more junior and based in China, the sources said. Crikey contacted both junior ex-staffers for comment but didn’t hear back. 

Tourism Australia refused to confirm or deny that the senior employee was one of the people let go, citing Privacy Act obligations, but acknowledged it has a new staff member acting in that role and said it plans to recruit for the same role “in due course”. The person acting in the role lists January 2024 as their start date on their LinkedIn page, and they were recruited externally. 

An email sent to the Tourism Australia address of the senior employee in March was answered with an automatic message that said “[they] no longer [work] at Tourism Australia”.

The senior employee declined to comment when reached on the phone by Crikey last week. 

Tourism Australia does not appear to have posted job advertisements for the person’s job and made no public announcement about what had happened.

But managing director Philippa Harrison told an all-staff meeting on December 7 about a “breach of policies” and announced the senior staffer’s departure, a source said. The Tourism Australia spokesperson said “all TA staff were reminded of their obligations under TA policies” at the meeting. 

It’s not clear how the trio was caught, but Crikey understands agency teams are regularly audited. 

After the breach was discovered on October 20, the agency did a sweep of its records, the spokesperson said: “Tourism Australia moved swiftly to conduct a comprehensive review of travel records, dating back several years, and found no further policy breaches.”

Tourism Australia said “all reporting obligations were complied with” but refused to go into specifics about any referrals made.

The federal agency, which is responsible for promoting Australia as a tourist destination, employs 186 staff and has offices in Sydney, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK and the US.

It’s most famous for the 2006 ad campaign “So where the bloody hell are you?”, which it launched under the managing directorship of future prime minister Scott Morrison.

Its current flagship campaign is taglined “Come and say g’day” and features a mascot called Ruby the Roo. It’s reported to have cost $125 million.

Do you know more? Contact Anton Nilsson securely on Signal via the username anilsson.33 — download the app, create a new chat via the pencil symbol and type the exact username into the search bar to get in touch. Or send him an email at [email protected].   Anonymity guaranteed.

About the Author

Politics Reporter @antonknilsson

Anton Nilsson is Crikey's federal political reporter. He previously covered NSW Parliament for NCA NewsWire, and before that, worked for Sweden's Expressen newspaper as well as other publications in Sweden, Australia and the United States.

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Morrison was also sacked, by the then Liberal government’s Tourism Minister, as he had been from a similar job running New Zealand’s tourism body.

We weren’t allowed to know about those sackings either. And look where it landed us!

Isn’t this a crime?

Shouldn’t they be prosecuted?

YES! And along with their colleague Morrison!

Theft whilst a servant is (or was once) viewed seriously. But the police can not only get involved if made aware by the employer. The two overseas employees might not be subject to Australian law.

Now the police have been made aware by Crikey anyone want to bet on the likelihood that they will investigate?

I have complete confidence that will happen.

It’s a post colonial status ‘trip’ common around international tourism, education, related QUANGOs and government esp. local.

An expectation or an entitlement that one’s employment should include much in the way of travel, hospitality, shopping, FF points?, visiting friends/family, networking etc., while avoiding digital inc. marketing and communications (just one international ed conference in Europe attracts 100+ university personnel).

An egregious example was a former university VC, like too many managers in international (self?) marketing roles, spending much or even more time offshore….junkets and jollies under the guise of ‘marketing’?

https://www.theage.com.au/national/uni-chief-quits-over-travel-row-20051217-ge1fyi.html

….. Morrison trainees?

“So where the bloody hell-a-ya been?”

“Most people in Tourism Australia absolutely do the right thing, are passionate about their jobs, and take seriously that it’s taxpayer money we’re dealing with.” …… meaning Morrison wasn’t/isn’t like most?

One hopes not! It would be terrifying if his behaviour was the norm in Tourism Australia. We’d have to chuck them all out and start again.

So first Scomo. Now one of his protégés. They say the fish rots from the head down.

The fish in this case was a shark.

Ruby? – named after the Ruby Princess?

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Palestinians were refused Australian visitor visas due to concerns they would not ‘stay temporarily’

Senators label refusing 150 people with Palestinian citizenship visas into Australia during first months of conflict as ‘cold-blooded’ and ‘cruel’

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About 160 Palestinians were refused visitor visas to come to Australia in the first three months of the Israel-Gaza conflict , mostly due to concerns they would not stay temporarily.

According to answers to questions on notice, 150 people with Palestinian citizenship were refused because they “did not demonstrate a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia” – a justification labelled “cold-blooded” and “cruel” by crossbench senators. Ten people who applied during the same period were rejected for other reasons.

Adam Aljaro, a civil engineer from Townsville who arrived in Australia in 1996, has two brothers and two sisters in Gaza who applied for visas in mid-November.

Aljaro says one brother, a doctor in central Gaza, “has seen too many people die”.

“His house has been destroyed. Our farm has been destroyed. My own house there has been destroyed.”

“Why are Palestinians being rejected … They think they will stay and not go back. I will support them, I am OK financially, I can look after them.”

“I don’t want to tell them they have been rejected. They have hope. If I tell them they will lose their hope, especially the kids.”

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Mohammed Ameen, a construction worker from Maribyrnong, Victoria, who arrived in Australia in 2013, applied for visas for his father, three sisters and their families five months ago.

“The first time I put the full application, they said I did something wrong,” he said. “I filled the application and then I fixed it, but still we are waiting.”

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president, Nasser Mashni, said it “beggars belief” that the Australian government is rejecting some visa applications “while implying that it believes people won’t leave Australia because of how unbearably oppressive and dangerous the Israeli government has made life for Palestinians”.

“Ukrainians were told to apply for these same visas when Russia invaded back in 2022, and there were no reports of visas being rejected on these grounds,” he said.

“The government must treat Palestinians with the humanity and compassion it so rightly offered to Ukrainians.”

The Greens’ immigration spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said: “It is beyond cruel to deny people fleeing the onslaught in Gaza the possibility of safety because they might be unable to return to their homes.” “Let’s be clear, the main reason people would be unable to return to Gaza is because of the Israeli invasion, with 80% of homes in Gaza made uninhabitable. “Palestinians fleeing that devastation are being denied safety in Australia because their homes have been destroyed, with their lives and the lives of their family threatened.” Independent senator Lidia Thorpe said “to reject visa applications from people fleeing … a war zone is a cold-blooded act from the Albanese government”.

“We should know if any of the applicants who have been rejected remain in Palestine. The government should review those applications and fast-track the approval of visas for those people to come to Australia as a matter of urgency,” she said.

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Max Kaiser, the co-executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, said it is “unconscionable to apply bureaucratic rules to people fleeing war”.

In March Guardian Australia reported on the plight of Palestinians who came to Australia on tourist visas, and were therefore unable to work, relying on the generosity of community organisations.

Charity groups said that at least 70 people who had to cancel or postpone flights due to cancellation of their visas were “collateral damage” for the federal government’s failures on visa processing.

Palestinian groups and refugee advocates said they were “relieved” when the federal government later reversed its visa cancellations for people fleeing Gaza.

According to figures from the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian government granted 2,273 temporary (subclass 600) visas for Palestinians between 7 October and 6 February but only 330 people had arrived in Australia in that period.

In the answers to questions on notice, the department said although “additional resources are applied to assist with processing, in order to be granted a visa, whether in a conflict zone or not, every person must satisfy [requirements] … including health, security and character criteria”.

The department also noted those seeking to flee the conflict in Gaza, which it described as “grave, and remains extremely fluid” are “not limited to one visa pathway”.

People coming from the Occupied Palestinian Territories can apply for a 12-month bridging visa E “as a safety net where they are unable to access standard visa pathways”. The visa grants access to Medicare and work rights.

In November the Albanese government explained Palestinians granted visas have undergone all standard security checks, rebuffing fears raised by the opposition that the cohort carried a terrorism risk.

Guardian Australia contacted the home affairs department, minister and immigration minister for comment.

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