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Tourism in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Callum Francis Callum Francis Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2024 ANZSIC X0003

Revenue

$184.2bn

2024-25

$184.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

673k

Businesses

114k

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Tourism in Australia industry analysis

The Tourism industry in Australia is well-developed and a critical contributor to national employment and GDP. Industry revenue consists of international and domestic expenditure on an array of tourism-related products and services. Tourism businesses struggled significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue streams for almost all tourism companies were eradicated as stringent national border restrictions and state government-mandated lockdowns caused demand to plummet. Government assistance saved many businesses during hardship, subsidising the wage costs of eligible full-time and part-time employees. The stimulus softened the exodus of businesses and employees but couldn't stop profit margins from slumping.

Trends and Insights

  • The Tourism industry has bounced back strongly in recent years. Pent-up demand for travel has led many tourists to accept higher prices for hotel accommodation and airfares during the recent period of inflationary economic conditions.
  • Domestic tourism is still the backbone of Australia's travel industry. Even with the return of international travel, Australians exploring their own backyard bring in the biggest revenue share since pre-pandemic times.
  • Tourism businesses are typically located in areas that attract a high volume of tourists. This dynamic concentrates the vast majority of businesses on the eastern seaboard, especially in the two most populous states of Victoria and New South Wales.
  • The fragmented nature of tourism prevents significant market share concentration. Competition is high, as moderate barriers to entry allow many players to compete in localised economies.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $184.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Pandemic-related restrictions heavily disrupted both domestic and international tourism

  • Demand from domestic and international tourists collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 2020 to February 2022, the Federal Government shut Australia's international border. Domestic travel restrictions, including prolonged citywide lockdowns and state border closures, also contributed to an extended period of low demand.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Tourism in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

International tourism is set to eclipse pre-pandemic records

  • International tourism is set to blossom over the coming years, with total inflow numbers into the country forecast to rebound above 2019 levels by 2025-26.

Biggest companies in the Tourism in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Qantas
20,412.3
Virgin Australia
5,728.3
Crown Resorts
2,749.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Tourism in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Retailing, Transport and Takeaway and restaurant meals. Retailing is the largest segment of the Tourism in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Border closures and lockdowns heavily affected transport providers

  • Transport is the largest service segment in Australian tourism. Transport services include public transport; cruises; taxis; car hire; and flights to, within and from Australia operated by Australian airlines.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms mainly provide services to international and domestic visitors on trips shorter than one year. Visitors include those travelling for work-related purposes, like conferences, and for leisure and personal reasons, like visiting friends and relatives.

What's included in this industry?

Takeaway and restaurant mealsAccommodationRetailingTransportRecreationTravel agents

Companies

QantasVirgin AustraliaCrown Resorts

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FLEETINBOUND TOURISMCODESHARINGTOTAL TRANSACTION VALUE (TTV) OCCUPANCY RATES

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 7220 - Tourism in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Tourism industry has bounced back strongly in recent years. Pent-up demand for travel has led many tourists to accept higher prices for hotel accommodation and airfares d...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Domestic tourism is still the backbone of Australia's travel industry. Even with the return of international travel, Australians exploring their own backyard bring in the big...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Tourism businesses are typically located in areas that attract a high volume of tourists. This dynamic concentrates the vast majority of businesses on the eastern seaboard, e...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The fragmented nature of tourism prevents significant market share concentration. Competition is high, as moderate barriers to entry allow many players to compete in localise...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Qantas has faced major consumer dissatisfaction, resulting in high volumes of complaints to the ACCC in recent years. Legal action taken against Qantas has expedited transiti...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Qantas's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Virgin Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Crown Resorts's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Qantas, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Virgin Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Crown Resorts, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

International visitor numbers are set to continue trending upwards. Greater numbers of international visitors provide ample opportunities for all segments of the Tourism indu...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The Tourism industry's recovery is varied but strong. While pubs and bars see lower profit margins, larger firms like airports are thriving thanks to economies of scale and m...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Tourism industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Tourism industry in Australia is $184.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Tourism in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 114k businesses in the Tourism industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Tourism industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Tourism industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 5.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Tourism industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Tourism industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Tourism market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Tourism market in Australia are Qantas, Virgin Australia and Crown Resorts

What does the Tourism in Australia include?

Takeaway and restaurant meals and Accommodation are part of the Tourism industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Tourism in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Qantas.

How competitive is the Tourism industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Tourism industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

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International industries

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.