Global events and the cost-of-living crisis may be having an impact on people’s travel plans, but they certainly haven’t grounded us completely.

According to research released by booking platform Omio, Asia is the top international destination for Australian travellers, with 30 per cent of those surveyed planning a getaway there in the next 12 months.

Europe was next on the list (25 per cent), followed by North America (12 per cent).

The findings in Omio’s NowNext 25 report are based on the results of an omnibus survey of more than 10,555 people worldwide conducted by YouGov, as well as its own user data, which showed that 68 per cent of Australians plan to holiday domestically.

It follows research released earlier this year by Roy Morgan, which found 57 per cent of Australians were planning a domestic trip in the next 12 months (up from 52 per cent last year), while an increasing number were also intending to head overseas.

While rising living costs pose a challenge, 38 per cent of all those surveyed for the Omio report said they would prioritise travel over other non-essential spending. Nearly a third indicated that planning ahead and travelling in the off-season was one way they would save money – which echoes the findings of other travel companies showing Australians increasingly prefer shoulder-season holidays.

Almost a third of Aussies planning a holiday in the next 12 months said they wanted to travel more, despite that fact that 75 per cent indicated global events would affect their future travel planning.

“Travel has shifted dramatically in recent years, from no travel during the pandemic, to revenge travel, and now into a new era of intentional travel,” said Omio’s Veronica Diquattro.

“What hasn’t changed is people’s determination to explore. The desire to travel is as strong as ever and, although it isn’t always easy, travellers continue to find a way.”

Holidays in Asia remain popular with Australian travellers. Photo: Pexels

Diquattro said the NowNext 25 report revealed “a new age of conscious, smart, and value-driven travel”.

As overtourism sparks angry protests in places such as Spain, the survey respondants said they would prioritise supporting local businesses, embracing regional culture and seeking out “under-the-radar” locations over choosing greener transport choices.

Omio predicts 2026 will see “the renaissance of the beachside holiday”, as half of the Australians surveyed said they wanted a more relaxing or beach-time break, and around one in five were opting for “solo time and self-reflection” or “wellness and self-care”.

This reflects the trend away from “tick-list” travel in favour of an approach that’s more about slowing down, unwinding and immersing yourself in nature.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data released this week shows that overseas arrivals and departures both increased in the year to August 2025, by 9.3 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively.

While nearly all overseas travel stopped during the pandemic, previous ABS research has shown that trips have continued to increase since restrictions lifted.

In the results of its poll released in August this year, Roy Morgan found 23 per cent of Australians planned to travel overseas in the next 12 months, up from 16 per cent in October 2022.

Adele Labine-Romain, the research company’s head of travel and tourism, said the findings – derived from interviews with more than 60,000 people ­– confirmed Australians’ “enduring passion for travel”.

“While economic factors and confidence levels have certainly been influencing travel decisions for some, the desire to explore remains strong showing a promising future for travel,” Labine-Romain said.

She added that while the percentage of Australians intending to take a holiday overseas continued to increase, “domestic travel pursuits remain the mainstay of how Australians travel, whether discovering new places or returning to familiar spots”, with 13 million Australians (57 per cent) planning a domestic holiday over the next 12 months.

Tourism Research Australia has predicted that international travel to Australia will exceed its pre-pandemic levels in 2026, and that domestic tourism spend – which already exceeds pre-Covid level ­– will continue to rise.

One curious finding from the Omio survey is that while most holidaymakers prefer to find their next destination via word-of-mouth recommendations or based on past trips, almost a third are influenced by TV shows or films.

“Screen-driven tourism is booming and is reshaping the travel sector,” its report concludes.