More Indians Oz bound in 2025

The latest edition of Australia Marketplace India unfolded in Jaipur with the energy of a reunion and the promise of deeper opportunities. Described by Tourism Australia as a ‘festival of Australia in India’, the three-night, four-day event brought together over 80 Australian sellers and over 100 handpicked Indian buyers, reaffirming the destination’s commitment to the Indian market.

Nisha Verma

India’s growth story for Australia continues to impress. “We continue to be the fastest growing inbound market for Tourism Australia. Pre-COVID we were the seventh largest market, today we are the fifth,” said Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager – India & Gulf, Tourism Australia.

In an exclusive presentation, it was highlighted that arrivals from India had crossed 450,000 in the year ending May 2025, marking a 10 per cent growth over the previous year. More importantly, Indian tourists are staying longer — contributing 29 million nights, a 21per cent jump — and spending more, with expenditure rising 14 per cent to AUD2.7 billion.

Connectivity is key

Stating that connectivity remains central to sustain this growth, Kashikar noted, “Aviation becomes a critical part of our growth story, and we can only achieve incremental growth out of India due to incremental aviation capacity.”

With direct services from Qantas and Air India, alongside one-stop options through Singapore, Malaysia and other destinations, the access to Australia has been smoother. Highlighting the visa process, he said that ease of entry is equally critical. “Australia’s visitor visa process is truly best in class. No interviews, no biometrics, no standing in long queues — the entire process is digitised,” said Kashikar. He added that multiple-entry visas of three to five years are encouraging repeat visits.

Beyond the icons

While Sydney and Melbourne remain big draws, Tourism Australia is consciously pushing dispersal. All eight states and territories were represented at the Jaipur event for the first time, showcasing regions like Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia. “We have seen very high-value bookings,” he revealed.

Jane Phillips, General Manager – Distribution Development & Partnerships, Tourism Australia, underlined the depth of experiences. “Australia can cater to everyone’s passion points — from coast and adventure to food, wine and indigenous culture.”

Sports and stories

Sports has remained a powerful hook for numbers going to Australia from India. The upcoming cricket series is expected to draw thousands of Indian fans. Celebrity advocacy also plays its part. “Advocacy plays a significant role in driving people-to-people links,” said Jennifer Doig, Regional General Manager – South and Southeast Asia, Tourism Australia.

Future in focus

Australia is repositioning itself for India market. “There is no other market that offers as much opportunity or potential at this point of time than India,” said Kashikar.