Australians’ love affair with Southeast Asia shows no signs of slowing down and, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a record 3.9 million Aussies travelled to the region in FY2025, up from 3.3 million in 2019.
Meanwhile, visitation to all Southeast countries has been on an upward trajectory since the reopening of international travel post-COVID, with Indonesia accounting for 45% of all trips to the region.
Roy Morgan Single Source Holiday Tracking Survey data showed that Southeast Asia remains on the travel wishlist for 15% Australians in the next two years, up from to 9% in 2023.
Interestingly, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam each had a 3% increase in preference compared to 2023.
In the future, this demand is only set to grow, according to Adam Kelly, General Manager at Scoot Australia.
“Over the next three to five years, we anticipate sustained and significant growth in demand for Southeast Asian destinations, particularly from Australian travellers who are increasingly seeking value, flexibility, and more meaningful travel experiences,” he told travelBulletin.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Asia-Pacific region is projected to be the fastest-growing globally, with a 9% year-on-year increase in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) in 2025. Looking further ahead, passenger numbers in the region are expected to double by 2043.
While Australians in particular are very familiar with some of Southeast Asia’s tourist hotspots, there is so much more to the region, from Cambodia’s islands to the regional villages of Laos and beyond.
“Because Southeast Asia is so familiar to a lot of Aussies, I like to show my clients what they might not have seen yet,” noted Travelglobe’s Alex Pilarski.
“I make little clips and content from trips I do or places I’ve checked out, so they can see the resorts, beaches, and experiences instead of just reading about them. Things like the hot springs in Vung Tau, or how amazing Ho Tram is for families, really come to life when they see it.”
Scoot recently announced the launch of flights to four new destinations in Indonesia – Labuan Bajo, Medan, Palembang and Semarang – which will roll out between December and February 2026.
Located in the western part of Flores Island, Laguan Bajo is the main gateway to Komodo National Park and is known for its pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs and marine life.
Medan is the bustling capital of North Sumatra, offering travellers access to Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, while Palembang is the capital city of South Sumatra, one of Indonesia’s oldest cities.
The capital of Central Java, Semarang, is known for its cultural heritage and Dutch colonial architecture.
The airline has also begun ramping up flights across Southeast Asia including Bangkok, Bali, Jakarta, Koh Samui, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Manado, Penang, Surabaya, Vientiane, and Yogyakarta.
“We are responding to rising travel demand and the growing trend of multi-stop trips by strategically expanding our network across the region,” said Kelly.
“Whether through new routes or increased frequencies, we are committed to making travel more accessible and affordable, with greater connectivity to our extensive network via our Singapore hub.
“By offering Australians more ways to explore Southeast Asia and beyond, we’re not just meeting demand, we’re helping redefine how people experience travel in the region.”
However, one interesting trend that Kelly has noticed is the growing number of Australians choosing to fly to Singapore as a key stopover en route to other parts of the region.
According to the airline’s ‘Travel Further for Less’ study, 75% of Australians are now considering ‘stopover-cations’ to maximise the number of destinations visited on a single trip.
Millennials in particular love a ‘stopover-cation’, with 89% planning to incorporate one into their travel plans.
“Singapore continues to be a highly attractive stopover hub for Aussies due to its accessibility, safety, and diverse appeal across a wide range of travellers, from families and young professionals to Gen Z explorers,” Kelly said.
“For example, travellers can consider building multi-stop itineraries such as flying from Australia to Singapore, then onwards to Bangkok, Manila, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur – adding value to their travel experience.”
Shelly Hasson from The Family Travel Studio has also found that Singapore continues to be a popular destination for her clients, often “the first big step into international travel with kids”.
“Parents want somewhere close to home that feels safe, affordable and easy to get around. Singapore ticks every box,” she told travelBulletin.
“The direct flight from Perth is short enough to manage with younger kids, which makes it far less daunting than tackling a long-haul. Families often see it as the perfect ‘starter’ destination before heading further abroad.”
Kelly also noted that “immense opportunities” have arisen for travel and the airline itself off the back of Southeast Asia’s aviation market expanding over the past 20 years, alongside rising disposable incomes, increased infrastructure investments and an increasing trend towards flexible short-haul travel.
“We’re actively scaling up our operations to meet the growing demand for travel across Southeast Asia in terms of new destinations and frequency increases,” he said.
Check out Travel Daily’s latest special report exploring the hidden gems of Southeast Asia HERE.
