Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world, with a sizeable minority of residents being of Asian origin. South Asians form one of the expanding ethnic communities in Australia and consist of individuals whose ancestors came from places such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. These communities play an important part in the education, employment, business, and multicultural sectors in Australia.
These ties also enable South Asian Australians to travel internationally frequently. Members of these communities usually visit their home country for a family get-together, wedding, religious festival, holiday, or any other personal occasion. A journey to the birth country is not perceived as just another trip for many people. A trip to the native land is a chance to meet parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, relatives, or friends.
The frequency of international traveling is different for each person or household. Some people visit their native land every year, while others go back every two or three years. Students, professionals, families, businesspeople, and old people travel in different ways and more or less frequently depending on income, employment, and family obligations according to the tickets’ prices and available holiday time.
Increase of Asian Population in Australia
The number of overseas born community has increased significantly in Australia over the last ten years. As per the statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there were approximately 8.8 million people living in Australia who had been born abroad as of 30 June 2025. 32% of Australia’s total population is comprised here of overseas born individuals. India is the most important country of origin with approximately 971,000 people born in India, followed by Nepal and Sri Lanka with significant population rises over the last decade.
The rise of the South Asian population in Australia has a great influence on the international air transportation in the country. As intercultural links grow, the prospects for air travel between Australia and South Asian countries get bigger.
Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalis and Bangladeshi can be found in all major Australian cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
The population of Indians in Australia and their travel plans to India
The Indian community is considered one of the largest communities among South Asians in Australia, and it has been growing rapidly in recent years.
According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data referred to in this document, as of 30 June 2015, it is estimated that there were about 971,020 people in Australia living from India, which is considered as the major country of birth in Australia, compared to 449,000 Indian citizens in 2015.
With such large numbers of Indian citizens in the country, travels between India and Australia become a major part of the aviation market.
Reasons for travel of Indian Australians to India:
There are many reasons for which Indian Australians may travel to India. One of the most important reasons for such travels is the family reunions since many of them have parents, siblings and grandparents in India.
Other reasons can be:
- family weddings
- participating in Diwali
- celebrating Holi
- observing religious celebrations
- school vacations
- university holidays
- business trips
- attending some personal events
- winter vacation
Travel is very important during the festive times of Diwali, Holi, Christmas, and the summer school holidays in Australia.
When families are travelling together, the cost of air tickets becomes a significant factor in their travel plans.
How often do people of Indian heritage living in Australia travel?
There isn’t one set schedule that everyone in the Indian community follows. Some Indian Australians might travel back to India every year, while others might go every few years. Students and young professionals may travel differently than families who have been in Australia longer and have children.
The information given points out that because there are so many people born in India living in Australia, even if individuals only travel occasionally, it adds up to a lot of passengers traveling between Australia and India.
Looking at Australia’s general travel numbers also shows how popular India is as a place to visit. In the financial year 2025–26, Australians traveling to India were up 47.9% compared to before COVID in 2018–19.
Pakistani Population in Australia and Visits to Pakistan
Another growing South Asian population group in Australia is the Pakistani population. The numbers provided by the ABS clearly indicate that the Pakistani born population grew from approximately 34,150 in 2011 to 95,980 in 2021.
Pakistani Australians have links with Pakistan in terms of family, culture, religion, work and personal ties. This might result in frequent international trips.
Main Reasons for Travel to Pakistan of Pakistani Australians
Visiting family members could be one of the main reasons for travel. Travellers may return to Pakistan to visit their parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents and other family members.
Other reasons could be:
- Marriage ceremonies
- Eid holidays
- Religious events
- Family gatherings
- Vacations
- Work related issues
- Personal matters
Some families plan their visit to Pakistan during the Eid holidays or during the Australian summer holidays. While others might schedule the visit according to their work commitments and school calendars of children.
Frequency of Pakistani Travel
There are huge differences in the travel frequency of Pakistani Australians. A person whose immediate family resides in Pakistan may travel more often than a person whose family members have moved to Australia.
Ticket price is another factor here. It is costly to make overseas trips for the whole family, hence it would be necessary to take into account cheap flights and annual leaves for such a purpose.
The crucial thing is that there is no official statistic that would show how many times every Pakistani Australian makes travels during the year.
Sri Lankan Population in Australia and Overseas Travels
Another South Asian ethnic group with well established cultural and family ties with the country of origin are Sri Lankan Australians.
According to the statistics provided by ABS, there were approximately 184,800 persons born in Sri Lanka residing in Australia on 30 June 2025. In 2015, the figure was approximately 119,700.
The long history of the ethnic community implies that the cultural ties may go from generation to generation.
Why Sri Lankan Australians Travel to Sri Lanka
Traveling between Australia and Sri Lanka can be for various reasons.
Family visits are one reason for traveling to Sri Lanka, especially if you have family members living in Sri Lanka. Family celebrations, religious festivals, holidays, and other family related matters can also be a reason for travel.
Sometimes, family visits are combined with tourism and include sightseeing in Sri Lanka and meeting with the relatives there.
How Often Do Sri Lankan Australians Travel?
It depends on each individual situation. Some families can travel to Sri Lanka once or twice per year, some can do that less often.
The frequency of travel can be affected by:
- Number of family members
- Prices for flights
- Work situation
- Education of children
- Vacation time
- Familiy obligations
- Duration of the visit
- Personal money situation
For those who have close ties to their homeland despite long period of living in Australia, international travel is still an important way of keeping contact.
Nepalese Population in Australia and Travels Internationally
There has been a rather quick growth among Nepalese nationals in Australia.
Based on the provided ABS statistics, the number of people born in Nepal grew from about 50,150 in 2015 to 213,580 in 2025. There is also quite a youthful composition in the Nepalese population as the reported median age was about 29.6 years in 2025.
The fact is significant since it is comprised of students, professional individuals, skilled workers, and others who settled in Australia relatively recently.
Nepalese Australians to Travel in Nepal
Family ties serve as one of the main motives to visit Nepal for Nepalese nationals living in Australia.
Travels may also be related to:
- Dashain
- Tihar
- Festive events
- Marriages
- University holidays
- Holiday time
- Personal events
- Visiting parents and relatives
University students may plan trips according to their university schedule, while professional individuals may utilize their annual leave.
Frequency of Nepalese Travels
The frequency of travels depends on personal conditions. Students travel less due to the necessity of studying and budget management, whereas stable permanent residents and citizens may enjoy more opportunities.
From the information provided it becomes clear that some Nepalese Australians travel quite frequently, but other may do so every few years due to the above mentioned reasons.
However, the fast growth of Nepalese community creates great potential of market for international Australia Nepal travels.
The Population of Bangladeshis in Australia and Travel Habits
Another group of South Asians who constitute an established population in Australia is Bangladeshi people.
According to the Census data of 2021, around 51,491 persons born in Bangladesh resided in Australia.
The Bangladeshi people in Australia usually have good relations with their families and communities back in Bangladesh. It promotes international travels between Australia and Bangladesh.
Reasons for Bangladeshi Australians Visiting Bangladesh
Visiting relatives abroad is one reason to travel overseas. People may visit Bangladesh because of spending time with their parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members.
Other reasons to travel can include:
- wedding,
- Eid festivities,
- religious celebrations,
- celebration of Pohela Boishakh,
- other family celebrations,
- holidays,
- personal issues,
- issues related to property
If people have relatives who live in Bangladesh, then returning to their homeland might be one of their travel plans in the long term.
How Often Do Bangladeshi Australians Travel Abroad?
There is no standard frequency of traveling for all Bangladeshi nationals.
Some families visit Bangladesh every year, especially those whose relatives stay in Bangladesh. Other families will visit every several years due to the cost of flights, obligations at work, education of their children, and other considerations.
The frequency of travel is therefore an individual issue.
Comparing Travel Patterns between the Five Communities
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh are different countries by population size and migration experience in Australia. In addition, the five communities have distinctive demographic profile, years of existence in the country, employment, and family ties.
Nevertheless, they have common travel motives which are numerous and important.
Community Major Travel Reasons
Factors Affecting Frequency
India Family visits, weddings, Diwali, Holi, holidays, business Airfare, family commitments, school holidays, work
Pakistan Family visits, Eid, weddings, religious occasions, business Airfare, annual leave, family location, work
Sri Lanka Family visits, cultural events, weddings, holidays Family commitments, airfare, employment, education
Nepal Family visits, Dashain, Tihar, education breaks Student schedules, finances, employment, airfare
Bangladesh Family visits, Eid, weddings, religious events, holidays Airfare, family commitments, work, school schedules
The comparison allows saying that cultural and family ties are important for all five communities, whereas the frequency of travel may be significantly different.
How Often South Asian Australians Visit Abroad?
It is necessary to make a distinction between population statistics and travel frequency statistics.
Information on the number of people who were born in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, or Bangladesh does not mean that these people travel abroad a certain number of times per year.
There is a clear statement in the supplied material that there is no such figure which reflects the fact that all Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi Australians visit overseas a certain number of times per year.
Instead, travel frequency is influenced by several factors.
Family Connections
Those who have parents, siblings, or close family members living outside the country will have more reason to travel compared to those who do not have their families abroad.
Income from Households
Long-haul flights can be a costly trip, especially when traveling with many people in one family. Higher income allows people to travel internationally regularly.\
Prices of Flights
Flight prices can play a key role in determining whether an individual is able to travel abroad or not. High prices can prompt postponement of a trip.
Work and Holidays
Individuals that work will usually have to plan for international travel based on their work and holidays available to them.
Holidays at Schools and Universities
Those with children will usually opt for traveling during holiday seasons at schools. Similarly, university students will choose semester breaks for their international travels.
Festivals and Events
Events such as weddings, religious ceremonies, birthdays, and other family events will also give reasons to travel irrespective of the season.
Travel to See Friends and Family is a Significant Motivation Factor
The motivation of visiting friends and relatives is especially pertinent for the migrant community.
There were about 2.8 million international trips motivated by visiting friends and relatives in the year ending December 2025, according to the data presented. This shows the significance of social contacts for Australia’s international travel market.
For South Asian Australians, these can range across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Traveling abroad can be motivated by wanting to see friends and family members instead of conventional tourism. International travel then becomes an ever present factor in the lives of many migrant families.
Festivals May Lead to Travel at Specific Times
Festivals play a part in influencing the time of traveling.
Indian Australians could schedule their trips during Diwali or Holi holidays. Nepalese Australians could travel during Dashain and Tihar. Pakistanis and Bangladeshis could make their trips based on Eid and other holidays. Sri Lankans could schedule their travels during cultural and family events.
Demand for airfares may become high when many travelers pick the same dates.
This will impact airfares. High demand periods for flights are more expensive as seats at low prices are exhausted. Travelers with more flexible schedule may sometimes take advantage of traveling a couple of days earlier or later than the peak festival periods.
Students and Working Migrants are Important Travelers
Education and work related motives may influence traveling abroad.
Australia is a magnet for South Asian students and professional migrants who want to pursue higher education or establish a career there. The young migrants keep close contact with their home countries at the same time.
International trips can be made by students during holiday periods when the universities have breaks. Professional migrants may go abroad during annual holidays.
Young demographics of the Nepal born population, for instance, illustrate the significance of students and young migrants in some South Asian communities.
Effect of Airfare on Travel Decisions
Airfare is a key factor influencing overseas travel.
For individual travelers, even small changes in airfare could be significant. For groups of four to five people, the differences might be bigger.
If fares rise during Christmas, school holidays, festive seasons, and other busy periods, families may choose to:
- Travel at a different month
- Change their date of departure
- Consider alternative carriers
- Use connecting flights
- Increase the interval between visits
- Watch airfares prior to making bookings
This makes the trends related to airfares especially critical for the migrant communities that frequently travel long distances to meet families.
Australia-South Asia Flights Importance
Increasing numbers of South Asian communities help Australia build closer relationships with the region.
India accounts for the biggest overseas born population in five countries mentioned above, while Nepal and Sri Lanka have experienced substantial population growth as well. Long term growth is also seen in Pakistan and Bangladesh, which has a well-established community in Australia.
As the populations continue growing, there are strong reasons for the airline companies and tourism agencies to offer better travel conditions.
Direct flights, connecting flights, increased schedule of flights, competitive airfares, and flexible booking systems could influence the convenience of traveling from Australia to South Asia.
Future Outlook for South Asian Travel from Australia
Population growth implies that international travel will keep developing in the future.
It should be noted that population growth does not imply that each person in the community travels more often. The growth of the population with strong family and cultural links with other countries creates a larger potential consumer base for international airlines.
In addition to the population growth, the future travel volume can depend on:
- Migration
- International education
- Family reunion
- Household income growth
- Increased airlift capacity
- Additional flight routes
- Competitive airfares
- Work pattern changes
- Tourism growth
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh have become attractive destinations for the Australians who came from South Asia countries.
Conclusion
Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi communities make up a considerable part of Australia’s diverse population and international travelers.
The population of India is the biggest within the mentioned communities, accounting for about 971,000 India-born people counted in 2025. Moreover, Nepal and Sri Lanka witnessed some growth of their population, whereas Pakistan grew significantly from a long-term perspective. Bangladesh has its own established community that amounts to more than 50,000 Bangladesh born citizens according to the census of 2021.
However, it is wrong to think that all members of those communities travel overseas at the same pace. Some of them travel home each year, others might do that every second or third year or even less often.
Family connections are the primary factor affecting the choice of the time for traveling overseas. Holidays, weddings, festivals, religious ceremonies, education, business trips, and personal matters could affect the time when people travel.
Ticket cost is the other factor that plays an important role. When flights are cheap enough, then international flights will be more likely to occur. Higher ticket costs during peak season might force people to change their schedule or wait for Cheap Flights India.
In general, there are many strong ties between Australia and South Asian countries which is why international flights are so relevant to them. The development of the mentioned communities in Australia implies that they will maintain their connections with their native countries.
