Booking.com and Oxford Economics today unveiled new research showing how travel demand facilitated by Booking.com supports jobs, businesses, and economic growth across Australia. In 2025 alone, this supported AU$47 billion in total economic output across the country.

According to the research, visitor spending linked to Booking.com totalled AU$19 billion in 2025, supporting businesses across hospitality, retail, transport and entertainment. This demand sustained close to 140,000 jobs and generated AU$12 billion in wages.

The research highlights how technology and innovation can help strengthen competitiveness and unlock new economic opportunities for Australian businesses and local communities.

This impact extends far beyond accommodation. Visitor spending creates ripple effects through indirect and induced channels, with direct spending driving an additional AU$28 billion in indirect and induced spending on top of the AU$19 billion direct impact.

These findings show how digital travel platforms can help businesses of all sizes – particularly independent accommodation providers and SMEs – access global demand and contribute to local economic growth. It also illustrates how travel demand acts as a powerful engine for economic growth, job creation and regional development across Australia.

Todd Lacey, Regional Manager for Oceania and Korea at Booking.com, said: “Travel is one of Australia’s most vital economic drivers, connecting visitors to everything from iconic coastal hubs to thriving regional communities. These findings highlight how digital platforms empower local operators, small accommodation providers, and unique regional businesses across the country to seamlessly reach global demand. By making it easier for travellers to discover and book extraordinary Australian experiences, we are helping sustain close to 140,000 local jobs, support regional livelihoods, and drive lasting economic growth across Australia.”

Matthew Dass of Oxford Economics said: “Australia’s travel economy depends not only on major destinations, but also on the ability of smaller businesses and regional economies across Australia to access travel demand. What stands out from the analysis is the breadth of economic activity linked to travel demand associated with Booking.com across Australia. The impacts extend well beyond accommodation, with close to half of visitor spending flowing to Australia’s transport, retail and entertainment sectors, supporting jobs, wages, tax revenues, and business activity across retail, transport, food services, entertainment, and wider supply chains.”

Margy Osmond, CEO of the Tourism and Transport Forum, said: “Data like this reinforces what our industry has been saying for years: travel isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. A road tripper isn’t just booking a room for the night. They’re shopping, dining, and drinking locally, and that spend flows straight into regional communities. So much of what makes Australia special lies in our regions, and travellers are increasingly seeking experiences off the beaten track. Platforms like Booking.com play a crucial role in connecting them with small regional operators who provide those experiences.”