Discover the ultimate Asian holiday destination for Aussies this summer!
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Asian countries have long captured the hearts of many Australian travellers, but recent data shows this Asian hotspot is shaping up to be the #1 destination for Aussies this summer.
With its rich culture, stunning scenery and abundance of experiences, it's no surprise that Japan has captured the hearts of many Australian travellers hoping for the perfect summer holiday.
According to Airbnb, from the start of January to mid-September, eight out of the top ten international destinations Aussies are searching for on the accommodation platform are located in Japan.
When looking at the specifics, Taito City in Tokyo took the crown for the most popular international destination, followed by Kyoto City in Kyoto and Shibuya City and Shinjuku City in Tokyo, trailing closely behind.
Hong Kong slipped in at fifth place, following their reopening to international visitors back in May.
However, Japan dominated again at sixth and seventh place with Osaka and the famous skiing hotspot of Sapporo in Hokkaido.
Taiwan’s capital city Taipei ranked eighth on the list. But the list rounded off with more Japanese ski locations: Nozawaonsen and Hakuba in Nagano.
Australians' love for Japan is unsurprising, according to Airbnb.
'Australians have always been enthusiastic travellers to Japan, enjoying the amazing skiing, food and culture that the country offers so it’s no surprise to see Japan feature so highly in the international searches for Australian travellers this summer—especially those looking to escape the heat,' Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Australia and New Zealand Manager said.
'With 8 out of 10 international travellers searching for holidays in Japan, it shows that not only do holiday-makers want to explore various regions within the country, but also that for those who are going skiing in Japan, the flight time, cost and comparable time zone for Aussie travellers are all ticking boxes.'
And with Japan lifting all its COVID-19-related travel restrictions—including the need for COVID-19 testing and vaccination certificates—earlier this year, freedom to travel is at an all-time high this summer holiday period.
However, Japan isn't the only Asian destination gracing Aussie wishlists.
Expedia's latest data revealed that Tokyo, alongside Denpasar in Indonesia, Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, and Singapore, are the most sought-after locations during the festive season.
On the domestic front, a few surprise entries on the list of most searched on Airbnb have cropped up.
Carrara on the Gold Coast iss the most searched-for destination for Airbnb stays in November and December, followed closely by Milton in Brisbane and Mascot in Sydney.
Other popular choices include Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast, Barunah Plains in Victoria’s Western District, and the seaside suburb of West Beach in Adelaide.
Trailing closely behind were Docklands in Melbourne, Ballarat in regional Victoria, and Somers on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
To complete the list, Liverpool in Greater Western Sydney came in at number 10.
Ms Wheeldon said that the list proved that travel in Australia has become more dispersed.
'The economic benefits are being shared across more destinations like in areas such as Ballarat, enabling a valuable economic contribution to rural and regional areas,' she said.
'This dispersal is being driven by hosts on Airbnb and in turn creates economic opportunities for small communities where there are no hotels.'
Oxford Economics Australia’s Head of Consulting Kristian Holding added: 'Domestic travellers have been crucial to the tourism sector’s resilience over the past three years as Aussie guests saw opportunities in domestic travel as a substitute for international holidays, with self-drive and regional trips increasing in popularity, which lead to a wider dispersion of tourism spend outside the traditional or “popular” destinations in Australia.'
Head of Public Policy at Airbnb in Australia and New Zealand, Michael Crosby also shared that the company is seeing a particular trend in farm stays.
In the 12 months leading up to March 2023, the states with the highest share of money spent on rural Airbnb accommodations were Tasmania at 52 per cent, Western Australia at 43 per cent, followed by NSW at 37 per cent, South Australia at 37 per cent, Victoria at 35 per cent, Queensland at 26 per cent, and the Northern Territory at 21 per cent.
Members, are you interested in visiting Japan? Do you have a specific city in mind? Let us know in the comments below!
With its rich culture, stunning scenery and abundance of experiences, it's no surprise that Japan has captured the hearts of many Australian travellers hoping for the perfect summer holiday.
According to Airbnb, from the start of January to mid-September, eight out of the top ten international destinations Aussies are searching for on the accommodation platform are located in Japan.
When looking at the specifics, Taito City in Tokyo took the crown for the most popular international destination, followed by Kyoto City in Kyoto and Shibuya City and Shinjuku City in Tokyo, trailing closely behind.
Japan took eight out of the top ten international destinations Aussies are looking at on Airbnb. Image source: Facebook/Airbnb (left), Japan National Tourism Organization (right).
Hong Kong slipped in at fifth place, following their reopening to international visitors back in May.
However, Japan dominated again at sixth and seventh place with Osaka and the famous skiing hotspot of Sapporo in Hokkaido.
Taiwan’s capital city Taipei ranked eighth on the list. But the list rounded off with more Japanese ski locations: Nozawaonsen and Hakuba in Nagano.
Australians' love for Japan is unsurprising, according to Airbnb.
'Australians have always been enthusiastic travellers to Japan, enjoying the amazing skiing, food and culture that the country offers so it’s no surprise to see Japan feature so highly in the international searches for Australian travellers this summer—especially those looking to escape the heat,' Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Australia and New Zealand Manager said.
'With 8 out of 10 international travellers searching for holidays in Japan, it shows that not only do holiday-makers want to explore various regions within the country, but also that for those who are going skiing in Japan, the flight time, cost and comparable time zone for Aussie travellers are all ticking boxes.'
And with Japan lifting all its COVID-19-related travel restrictions—including the need for COVID-19 testing and vaccination certificates—earlier this year, freedom to travel is at an all-time high this summer holiday period.
However, Japan isn't the only Asian destination gracing Aussie wishlists.
Expedia's latest data revealed that Tokyo, alongside Denpasar in Indonesia, Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, and Singapore, are the most sought-after locations during the festive season.
On the domestic front, a few surprise entries on the list of most searched on Airbnb have cropped up.
Other popular choices include Jervis Bay on the NSW South Coast, Barunah Plains in Victoria’s Western District, and the seaside suburb of West Beach in Adelaide.
Trailing closely behind were Docklands in Melbourne, Ballarat in regional Victoria, and Somers on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
To complete the list, Liverpool in Greater Western Sydney came in at number 10.
Ms Wheeldon said that the list proved that travel in Australia has become more dispersed.
'The economic benefits are being shared across more destinations like in areas such as Ballarat, enabling a valuable economic contribution to rural and regional areas,' she said.
'This dispersal is being driven by hosts on Airbnb and in turn creates economic opportunities for small communities where there are no hotels.'
Oxford Economics Australia’s Head of Consulting Kristian Holding added: 'Domestic travellers have been crucial to the tourism sector’s resilience over the past three years as Aussie guests saw opportunities in domestic travel as a substitute for international holidays, with self-drive and regional trips increasing in popularity, which lead to a wider dispersion of tourism spend outside the traditional or “popular” destinations in Australia.'
Head of Public Policy at Airbnb in Australia and New Zealand, Michael Crosby also shared that the company is seeing a particular trend in farm stays.
In the 12 months leading up to March 2023, the states with the highest share of money spent on rural Airbnb accommodations were Tasmania at 52 per cent, Western Australia at 43 per cent, followed by NSW at 37 per cent, South Australia at 37 per cent, Victoria at 35 per cent, Queensland at 26 per cent, and the Northern Territory at 21 per cent.
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Have no inclination to travel overseas. 
