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image courtesy: Austria Tourism, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Karten/ Franz Gerdi
New data released today by the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) reveals a robust start to the year for outbound leisure travel, with a record 1.85 million Australians heading overseas for holidays between January and March 2025 – a 15% increase over the same period last year, and a remarkable 54% rise from 2023.
South East Asia continues to dominate, drawing nearly 4 in 10 outbound leisure travellers, with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam retaining their appeal due to proximity, value, and accessibility. North East Asia also saw a resurgence, with travel to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan up significantly year-on-year.
CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine highlighted that the results reflect a maturing market:
“Australians are increasingly confident, adventurous and diverse in their destination choices. We’re seeing growth across every age group and every corner of the globe — from family trips in South East Asia to extended stays across Europe and the Americas. This data reflects the hard work of the travel industry and tour operators in delivering compelling, well-supported itineraries Australians trust.”
Youth travel remained strong with the 18–35 age group accounting for the largest share (29%) of international holidaymakers. Older travellers also returned in force, with the 71+ segment growing by 18%, reflecting greater accessibility and confidence among retirees.
While shorter trips (under 14 days) remain popular, there was a notable increase in trips of one month or longer, particularly to Europe and North East Asia — a signal that Australians are seeking deeper, more immersive travel experiences.
“As Australians continue to discover the joy of exploring the world, Australian-based tour operators and wholesalers are well-positioned to support them with safety, structure and unforgettable experiences. The resilience of the outbound market is clear — and it’s only just getting started,” Jardine added.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) extends its congratulations to Senator the Hon Don Farrell on his reappointment as Minister for Trade and Tourism.
CATO has valued the constructive and open relationship with Minister Farrell and his office over the last term of government, which has included meaningful collaboration on the development of key industry initiatives. Notably, the Reviving International Tourism Grant (RITG) program, developed in 2023 and concluding at the end of this month, provided targeted support for outbound travel businesses as they rebuilt in the wake of the pandemic.
CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine, acknowledged the impact of the program and the strong foundation it has helped establish for future growth.
“The RITG program delivered much-needed support for CATO members at a crucial time. It recognised the importance of Australia’s outbound travel sector and helped our members to reconnect with international supply chains, drive investment in innovation and build resilience as international travel resumed. We now look forward to working with Minister Farrell on future initiatives that will strengthen Australia’s outbound travel industry and its global competitiveness,” said Jardine.
With international travel demand continuing to grow, CATO remains committed to working closely with the Minister and his Department to ensure Australian tour operators and wholesalers are well-supported, future-ready, and positioned to lead in the global tourism landscape.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has released its annual Australians on Holiday Report with 2024 availed data revealing a resilient and maturing recovery in outbound leisure travel. The report highlights Australians’ growing preference for structured, experience-rich holidays — with touring continuing to play a central role in shaping travel choices.
Drawing on a combination of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, independent consumer research, and benchmarking insights derived from CATO’s accreditation program, the report presents a comprehensive view of Australia's outbound leisure travel landscape.
In 2024, more than 6.9 million Australians travelled overseas for holiday purposes — a 21% year-on-year increase. While growth was recorded across all regions, Asia emerged as the standout, welcoming nearly 4 million Australian holidaymakers. Travel to North-East Asia, including Japan and South Korea, surged by an impressive 73%.
Brett Jardine, Managing Director of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO), said as leisure travel continues to dominate the outbound market, touring’s safety, structure, and immersive qualities continue to resonate within the overall data.
“We’re seeing more Australians value the depth and convenience that touring offers — particularly in complex or culturally rich destinations. Whether it’s a traditional coach journey, a small or private group or a luxury rail journey, the appetite is strong and growing,” Jardine said.
Key findings from the report:
Jardine also highlighted the launch of CATO’s Touring Academy in 2024, the growing recognition and value attributed to the CATO Accreditation program, and upcoming initiatives including the launch of the CATO Summit, reinforce touring’s position as a premium, enriching and safe travel option.
With international holiday travel nearing pre-pandemic levels, the Australians Abroad 2024 Report confirms that the touring sector remains a cornerstone of outbound travel's growth and evolution.
See further details here
Sydney, Australia – The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has today revealed the first-ever Top 20 Touring Travel Agents - a new monthly recognition program celebrating travel advisors who demonstrate exceptional product knowledge and commitment to professional development through the CATO Touring Academy.
The CATO Touring Academy is the only industry training platform dedicated exclusively to the touring sector. Designed to upskill Australian travel agents, the Academy features a wide range of touring focused eLearning training modules from touring essentials and elective modules through to destination and brand training, all in one central repository and all tailored to land-based touring.
Agents who complete a set number of modules earn CATO Touring Academy Certification. This will be further recognised across the industry with the new Touring Leaderboard highlighting the top-performing agents who have completed the largest volume and variety of modules in the Academy to date.
“This new recognition will highlight those agents that represent the gold standard in touring knowledge,” said Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO. “They have demonstrated a clear commitment to learning and are well positioned to help clients choose the right tour with confidence.”
The initiative also aims to encourage friendly competition and ongoing learning within the industry.
“Our goal is to keep raising the profile of touring specialists and ensure they have the tools they need to succeed,” added Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO. “If agents are selling tours, or want to sell more tours, this is the platform they need to be on.”
Agents who are not yet registered are encouraged to sign up for the CATO Touring Academy and work toward their certification, gaining valuable skills to better serve their clients and grow their bookings.
To view the current Top 20 or learn more about the CATO Touring Academy, visit: https://www.cato.travel/top-touring-agents
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) recently hit the road with Travel Managers, presenting to Personal Travel Managers (PTMs) across the country. These sessions provided valuable insights into the evolving nature of the land touring sector and highlighted the opportunities available to travel agents who specialise in this growing market.
CATO’s Managing Director, Brett Jardine, led the presentations, sharing industry trends and discussing how agents can leverage the demand for land-based touring experiences. With continued strong growth in the sector, Jardine emphasised the benefits for PTMs, including increased sales potential and enhanced revenue opportunities.
"The land touring sector continues to expand, offering immense potential for travel agents who position themselves as specialists in this space," said Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO. "By understanding the evolving needs of today’s travellers, agents can create highly tailored experiences that drive customer satisfaction and business success."
Travel Manager’s Executive General Manager, Michael Gazal added, “We are very keen to have as many of our Personal Travel Managers complete the CATO Touring academy and expect a spike in all our touring sales as a result. The learning opportunity in the complex and diverse world of touring has been made very easy with the launch of the academy and we applaud CATO for this very timely initiative.”
The CATO Touring Academy is a game-changer for agents’, it’s incredibly easy to fit into their busy schedules, offering flexible learning that covers everything they need to understand and succeed in selling touring.
“As the voice of the touring sector, CATO remains committed to equipping travel agents with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in this dynamic industry”, added Jardine.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) recently hosted a series of networking events across the country, bringing together members from across the land-supply sector.
More than 100 CATO members attended events in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne that reinforce CATO’s commitment to supporting its members.
Hosted by CATO Managing Director Brett Jardine and several representatives of the CATO Board, these events provided a platform for members to forge new connections, exchange ideas, and voice industry-specific concerns.
"These gatherings are pivotal to our member engagement strategy," stated Brett Jardine. "They not only facilitate a vital exchange of ideas but also strengthen the community that underpins our sector of the travel industry.”
CATO extends its gratitude to LATAM Airlines, the major sponsor of these networking events, whose significant support was instrumental in the success of these events. Their ongoing commitment to the touring sector highlights the importance of strong industry partnerships in navigating the evolving travel landscape.
With an outstanding response from attendees, CATO looks forward to hosting more events that foster collaboration, innovation, and growth within the sector.
Perth CATO members gather together as part of the National Networking Roadshow.
Inaugural Module From Visit Monaco
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) has reached an exciting milestone with the launch of Destination Training within the CATO Touring Academy.
The inaugural module features the prestigious Principality of Monaco. The expansion into destination training builds on the Academy’s ongoing success in providing touring education, and now offers travel professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of specific destinations.
With over 1,500 learners and more than sixty training modules in total, the CATO Touring Academy has become a vital resource for travel industry professionals. By introducing destination trainings, the Academy is creating a more immersive and practical learning experience, equipping agents with expert insights into key locations worldwide.
Monaco has the distinction of being the first destination to participate, allowing travel professionals to explore what makes the Principality a standout choice for touring. This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Academy, with more destinations set to follow soon.
"Visit Monaco is proud to be the first destination in the CATO Touring Academy, equipping the travel trade industry with the latest insights from the Principality. With many recent openings and developments, including a rich cultural scene, exciting events, and a host of new restaurants and renovated hotels, now is the perfect time for travellers to (re)discover Monaco”, said – Claire Neil, Regional Manager AU & NZ at Visit Monaco
CATO Managing Director, Brett Jardine added; “This milestone marks just the beginning, with CATO committed to rolling out additional destination training modules in the coming months.”
For more information go to www.cato.travel/touring-academy-agents
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) successfully hosted just under 200 travel industry professionals at Melbourne’s Q Events to celebrate International Women's Day, adorned in splashes of yellow symbolising joy, resilience, hope, and empowerment.
The event emceed by CATO Board Director, Ingrid Berthelsen, kicked off with a compelling introduction to the Women’s Resilience Centre by Judy Pridmore. Thanks to everyone's participation, CATO was able to offer financial support to the centre, aiding women as they move from crisis care to recovery after experiencing domestic abuse, trauma, and loss.
The highlight of the day was an inspiring speech by Olympic gold medallist Noémie Fox, who shared her journey of determination and resilience. This was followed by a lively audience Q&A session.
Unfortunately, Ashleigh Conwell, CEO of Yellow Falcon, could not attend in person due to the evolving circumstances in Brisbane, but she captivated the audience with her virtual presentation on “Owning Your Story,” focusing on overcoming grief and loss, rediscovering joy, and staying true to personal values.
Brett Jardine, Managing Director of CATO, expressed his deep appreciation: “I am immensely grateful for the support of our Board members, particularly Ingrid Berthelsen, Yvette Thompson, and Julie King, who went above and beyond to elevate this year’s event and bring to life the theme of ‘Emotional Resilience’. The powerful presentations by both Noemie and Ash left an indelible mark on all attendees.”
CATO is incredibly thankful to the following partners who came together as “Brands for a Cause”; Chimu Adventures, Collette, Destination Canada, Globus Family of Brands, G Adventures, Intrepid, Julie King & Associates, On the Go Tours, NIB Travel, and The Travel Corporation - their unwavering support was pivotal in bringing this event to fruition and driving positive change within the travel industry and beyond.
Special recognition is also due to Lisa Maroun and the Enspired Plus team, whose exceptional event planning continues to align perfectly with CATO’s vision.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is recognising and celebrating emotional resilience within the travel industry and will be providing 10 complimentary tickets to deserving women to attend the International Women’s Day Lunch, taking place on Thursday, 6 March 2025, at Q Events, Melbourne.
Industry members are encouraged to nominate individuals within the travel industry, who have demonstrated exceptional emotional resilience over the past year. This initiative will acknowledge those who have shown strength, perseverance, and leadership in challenging times.
To submit a nomination, participants must email cato@cato.travel with the following details: - Nominee’s name and company - Nominator’s name and contact details - A short statement (200 words or less) describing how the nominee has demonstrated emotional resilience in the past year
10 tickets will be allocated at the IWD Lunch towards this cause and nominations are open to anyone in the travel industry. If selected, both the nominator and the nominee will receive complimentary tickets to attend the event.
Applications will close on Friday 21st February 2025 and nominees will be announced.
The CATO International Women’s Day Lunch has been reimagined as a collaborative industry gathering, focusing on unity, emotional resilience, and collective impact. This event is designed to bring the industry together on equal footing to drive meaningful change and celebrate the strength and achievements of women in travel.
Date: Thursday, 6 March 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Location: Q Events, 123 Queen Street, Melbourne
The Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is excited to announce the launch of the first module in its highly anticipated Business Education series within The CATO Touring Academy.
The Touring Landscape - Roles and Responsibilities, is a new educational module within the academy that is designed to set a new standard in practical professional development for travel consultants, by providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex roles within the touring industry.
With the growing shift in consumer sentiment toward more bespoke, immersive and culturally enriching travel experiences, the new CATO business education module will help agents to navigate the complexities of packaging travel services, whilst also gaining insights into potential liabilities around booking terms and conditions, and recognising the pitfalls when inadvertently acting as tour operators.
Upon completion of this module, participants will have a greater clarity on the distinct roles of the touring sector’s ecosystem, how they interact, and the responsibilities they bear in creating seamless touring experiences.
“The launch of this module marks an important milestone in the Academy’s evolution. The Business Education section expands the Academy’s offerings, empowering travel consultants to not only excel in selling touring products but also build stronger, more sustainable businesses”, said Brett Jardine, Managing Director, CATO
