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Australia has become a popular vacation spot for people from India. With its beautiful natural attractions like the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru, along with well-known landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and its diverse animal life, Australia has been enjoyed by Indians for a long time. The number of Indian tourists has gone up a lot this year. By the end of March 2025, almost 450,000 people from India had visited Australia, which is 9.4% more than the year before, according to Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager for India and the Gulf at Tourism Australia. Reports show that about 427,000 tourists from India went to Australia in 2023-24, which is a 12 percent increase compared to the year before. Kashikar says that this growth is happening for several reasons, like simpler visa rules, better flight options, and different tourism choices made for what Indian people like.

A big reason for this increase is that the visa application process is completely online, making it much easier than applying to countries like the US, UK, or Schengen area. Kashikar mentioned that the visa process is fully online, so people do not have to send in their actual passports, give fingerprints, or go to face-to-face meetings that can be hard for some travelers. Better flight options are also helping more people visit. Kashikar pointed out that there are now 27 flights each week between India and Australia, up from 8 before the pandemic. Also, many people from India have moved to Australia, which has led to more students going there. Tourist visas are good for three years, and business visas are good for five. Kashikar says that good applications usually get approved in about two weeks, which works well for Indian travelers who usually plan trips shortly before they leave. Indian tourists are also starting to check out places other than the usual spots of Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast.

Now, Indian travelers are seeing new places like Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, and the Northern Territory, as part of Australia’s Signature Experiences program, which shows off fancy places to stay, cultural activities, and wildlife trips. "Kashikar said that, despite what people think, the Australian dollar has stayed steady at around Rs 55 to 56, which is not what happened with the US dollar." He added that even though Australia is often seen as a fancy place to visit, working with online travel sites like MakeMyTrip helps bring in travelers who want to save money, thanks to special deals and discounts. The tourist visa lets people enter the country multiple times and can be good for as long as 3 years, with each visit lasting up to 12 months. For people from India, the best times to visit Australia are from April to June and from October to December.