Tourism Research Australia forecasts international visitors to return to Australia more quickly than previously predicted.

The Tourism forecasts for Australia: 2023 to 2028 report shows group travel from China and new flight routes will have a positive impact on visitor numbers.

In 2023, Australia is predicted to have 7.3 million international visitors, almost double the number in 2022.

That number will grow to 9.3 million in 2024, 10.2 million in 2025 and reach 12.1 million by 2028.

Minister for Tourism, Don Farrell, said thanks to resilient, world-class tourism operators, international and domestic travel has bounced back.

“A thriving tourism industry is crucial to our economic prosperity, with every dollar spent in the visitor economy generating a further 81 cents for other parts of the economy,” he said.

“One-in-eight Australian businesses is tourism related and it is the lifeblood of so many Australian communities.”

Event organisers, hospitality and hotels are also set to see record spending across the industry with domestic and international travellers predicted to spend $170.3 billion in 2023, $31.9 billion above 2019 pre-pandemic levels.