Australia’s domestic tourism sector is going from strength to strength, with employment up 4.2 per cent year on year according to the latest quarterly data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Thousands of roles were added across accommodation, retail, cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services compared to the same period in 2025, pointing to strong and sustained demand for travel experiences at home.
The growth comes alongside a 3.1 per cent increase in international arrivals to Australia in the year to April 2026, with 161,700 Aussies returning from Indonesia – making it the most popular overseas destination for the month.
However, not all sectors are sharing in the boom. The casino and gambling industry shed 400 jobs (-21.1 per cent) over the year, a signal that travellers may be growing more selective with discretionary spending even as appetite for holidays remains strong.
iSelect’s Sophie Ryan said the data reflects a consumer base that is stretched but still prioritising travel.
“Recent ABS figures show people are still finding room in their budgets for holidays and experiences,” she said.
With school holidays approaching, Ryan urged Aussies heading overseas to stay alert, particularly in popular Indonesian destinations such as Bali, where local authorities have reported an increase in opportunistic theft targeting tourists.
On a positive note, the Australian Government has downgraded its ‘Do Not Travel’ warnings for the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, though Ryan encouraged travellers to check the latest Smartraveller advice regardless of destination – and to make travel insurance the first item on their packing list.
