Australian travellers are wasting no time planning their next escape, with new data revealing a surge in winter holiday bookings — both for sunny leisure breaks and booming business trips across Asia.
As students return to school after the April holidays, Webjet has reported a strong upswing in international bookings for the July 2025 school holidays, with overseas trips up 10% year-on-year.
Top destinations include perennial favourites like Bali, London and Queenstown, with Queenstown alone seeing a remarkable 39% jump in bookings compared to last year. To capitalise on the momentum, Webjet has launched its “Hello Holidays” sale, offering discounted fares to hotspots such as Bali, Queenstown, Cairns, the Gold Coast and Tokyo for travel up until March 2026.
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Meanwhile, new insights from Skyscanner show that the majority of Aussies are keen to escape the winter chill by heading to warmer destinations, whether at home or abroad.
According to their latest research, 85% of Australians are planning a winter getaway aimed at chasing the sun — with domestic favourites like Queensland and Hamilton Island proving just as popular as overseas escapes to Vietnam, Vanuatu and the Philippines.
Jarrod Kris, Skyscanner Travel Expert, noted that travellers are increasingly looking to maximise both experiences and budget. “Our research shows Aussies are stretching their dollar further by travelling in the shoulder seasons, staying flexible with dates, and seeking out underrated destinations,” he said.
Top tips for budget-savvy travellers this winter include flying on less popular days like Mondays and Thursdays and considering destinations where the Aussie dollar goes further.
According to Skyscanner, some of the cheapest destinations for Winter 2025 include Launceston ($177 average seat price) and Sunshine Coast ($254), while international bargains can be found in Krabi, Thailand ($548) and Port Vila, Vanuatu ($594).
While leisure travel is booming, corporate travel across Asia is also surging at record-breaking rates. New data from Flight Centre’s Corporate Traveller shows that flight capacity between Australia and Asia has skyrocketed, far exceeding pre-pandemic levels. India leads the way with a 346% increase, followed by Vietnam (263%) and South Korea (153%).
Singapore, the Philippines, China and Hong Kong have emerged as top corporate travel hubs for Aussies, with business-class travel recording a sharp 45% uptick in late 2024 alone. Premium travel to Hong Kong has risen 60%, while China isn’t far behind at 57%, showing a clear trend toward higher-end, longer trips — helped along by relaxed visa policies in China and a wave of competitive airline deals.
As global trade realignments continue, particularly with US-China tensions pushing businesses to diversify, Australia’s connections to Southeast Asia are becoming ever more crucial — and the airlines are responding accordingly with more direct flights, greater frequency, and upgraded cabins.
Whether escaping the winter for a much-needed beach break or jetting off for business, one thing is clear: 2025 is shaping up to be a season of smart travel choices, warmer horizons and stronger global ties.
