What is the number of travel agency and tour operator businesses in Australia?

The travel industry and travel agency sector are experiencing a resurgence post-pandemic, with tourism fully rebounded, air travel back to 2019 levels, and airfares on the rise. Australia’s busiest hub is reporting an increase in Aussies traveling abroad compared to 2019.

According to Tourism Research Australia’s snapshot, the number of travel agencies and tour operators in Australia grew by 7.2% over five years, reaching 8,524 businesses. However, there was a slight decline in the last year, indicating some challenges in the industry.

Despite the overall growth, staffing remains a challenge for travel agencies, with only one-third able to fill all vacancies for travel agent roles in 2023. The Australian Travel Industry Association’s survey highlights the need for more skilled professionals in the sector.

Overall, Australia had 355,570 tourism-related businesses in June 2023, making up 14% of all enterprises. The growth was mainly seen between 2018 and 2022, with smaller businesses growing faster than larger ones. Car rentals, retail trade, and cafes/restaurants saw the most growth, while taxi transport and gambling services declined.

Victoria, ACT, and the Northern Territory experienced the fastest growth in tourism businesses, but some states saw declines in the last year. Regional areas had slower growth compared to capital cities, with both regions experiencing a decline in the last year. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth have the highest number of tourism businesses in the country.