Tokyo wrestled with Bali and Auckland as the top international destination for Australian travellers booking with Webjet, Flight Centre, Expedia, and Booking.com. Expedia observed a 130 per cent increase in bookings for the Hakuba skiing village over the past 12 months.

Todd Lacey, Booking.com’s Oceania regional manager, found that Japanese cities such as Tokyo and Osaka have been particularly popular for solo travellers. These travellers have been drawn to the ‘pod hotels’ in the region as an “affordable way to travel to an otherwise expensive destination. ”

Barry said Japan was “starting to emerge as a favourite year-on-year”, noting its emergence as a skiing destination for Australians shunning the slopes of North America and Europe.

Darren Karshagen, senior director at Expedia Australia, found that travellers were becoming “savvier” when booking a holiday, finding that accommodation with free inclusions had become increasingly popular among his clients.

“Aussies can still find cost-effective holidays in summer, provided they are flexible with destinations and travel dates,” Karshagen said.

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While Bali still remains the heavyweight of Australian summer tourism, growing interest in neighbouring regions has accelerated a fragmentation of the Southeast Asian market.

“Khao Lak and Patong [both in Thailand] are really starting to grow, those that aren’t really the classics,” Barry said. “We’re seeing a diversification of beach destinations.”

Domestically, Australia’s east coast capital cities remain the most popular destinations for a summer holiday, with the Gold Coast and Perth also experiencing significant demand. Regional areas such as Townsville and Launceston are also amassing tourists seeking greater bang for their buck.

“Queensland is the only state that took out multiple spots in our top five most popular destinations,” Kavanagh said. “We are seeing some Aussies flock to the northern hemisphere for a white Christmas, while plenty are also staying closer to home to soak up the sun.”

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