Adelaide-based Amisha Patel couldn't invite her family members from India when her daughter Sianna was born in August 2020, due to Australia's international border closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But as soon as the Australian government gave some hints on lifting travel restrictions a month before Christmas, she booked tickets for her hometown of Ahmedabad, India.
Amisha is one of the thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents who have travelled to India in the months since Australia opened its international borders.
Highlights
- India has become the number one destination for Australian residents, with more than 20,000 resident returns in February 2022.
- The US and UK are second and third on the list, with 12,760 and 8,150 resident returns, respectively.
- The main reason people travelled to India was for family reunions, says travel agent.
According to the latest ABS travel data, India has become the number one destination for Australian residents, with 20,400 returning from India in February 2022.
That accounts for 18 per cent of all Australian resident returns.
The US and UK are second and third on the list, with 12,760 and 8,150 resident returns, respectively.
India second on the list for visitors to Australia
When it comes to residents of other countries visiting Australia, India is second on the list with 9,380 people arriving in the country in February 2022, followed by the US with 6,590 visitors choosing to travel Down Under for short trips.
The UK, with 13,440 trips, is the leading source country for visitors.
Amisha said, "When the Australian government finally planned to lift the travel ban imposed on citizens and permanent residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we quickly booked our tickets even with the uncertainty of flights cancellation."
Terminal 3 of New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. (file) Source: Pradeep Gaur/Mint via Getty Images
We were not sure if we were going to India or not until the last day. We heard of many flight cancellations around that time, but we were fortunate to be reunited with our family members after more than two years.
According to data given by the ABS to , a total of 2,170 Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens returned from India in November 2021.
That number more than doubled in December 2021, which registered 5,270 resident returns from India.
Once Australia finally opened its international borders to travel overseas, 17,710 and 204,00 residents made a short trip to India in January and February, respectively.
Amisha's primary purpose in visiting India was her daughter Sianna.
"Nobody from my family was with me in Australia when my daughter [Sianna] was born."
Amisha (L) with her one-year-old daughter Sianna and 103-year-old great grandmother during her visit to India. Source: Supplied by: Amisha Patel
We were so excited to take my daughter to India for the first time, and it was a unique and memorable experience when I took her to meet my great-grandmother aged 103 years.
"It was a proud moment for our family when we captured a photograph of members of five generations together for the first time," said Amisha.
Nirav Kotak, a travel agent from Travel Crafters, said the main reason behind the high number of residents travelling to India was for family reunions, as it had not been possible during COVID-19 restrictions.
"We have seen nearly a 400 per cent growth after the restriction was lifted. I indeed see these numbers remaining consistent or growing even more, specifically after the trade deal signed by both countries."
"Back in December 2021, when the Australian travel ban was lifted, we saw people were more or less hesitant to travel, as nobody wanted to get stuck overseas again.
"But post-Omicron, mid-January onwards we saw such immense confidence among the travellers to book their tickets to meet the families and friends overseas after a long wait," he added.
Australia's national carrier Qantas started its direct flight to Delhi from Sydney and Melbourne last year and will start the Sydney-Bangaluru flight in September 2022.
Sydney-based travel agent Nirav Kotak Source: Supplied by: Nirav Kotak
Nirav said, "This year we have seen travellers plan their Christmas holidays very early, booking as early as January, so they don't miss out on the best deals on flights and their preferred travel dates."
"We have already started getting enquiries about the Sydney-Bengaluru Qantas flight five months before the actual start date."
