16 October 2025
Jane Howlett, Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events
Hobart has named a key trending destination in international travel booking provider Expedia Group’s annual travel trends report ‘Unpack 26’.
Searches for Hobart travel options have increased by 25 per cent on Expedia, prompting Hobart to be named as one of the top 10 global ‘Destinations of the Year’ for 2026.
Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, said visitors to the State receive a fantastic experience.
“Expedia is a leader and influential voice in the travel industry, growth in the interest in Hobart on their platforms is significant recognition for Tasmania’s tourism industry,” Minister Howlett said.
“Today’s travel market is highly competitive with many destinations vying for the tourist dollar, so it’s important to prioritise our visibility in domestic and international markets.
“We know Tasmania has what the world wants, and listings like these help drive visitation to our State.”
Sarah Kingston Clark, CEO, Tourism Tasmania said that Hobart’s inclusion in the list was a nod to Tasmania as a world class destination and highlights the importance of building relationships with international travel platforms like Expedia.
“Expedia has significant global reach, connecting millions of travellers with destinations around the world," Ms Kingston Clark said.
“It’s a powerful marketing platform that places Tasmanian products and experiences directly in front of consumers who are actively planning their next holiday.
“Having a strong Tasmanian presence on Expedia is vital, it’s often where travellers first discover our destination, and from there, they’re inspired to explore more of what our regions have to offer.”
Hobart is the only Australian city to make the ‘Destinations of the Year’ list. Others featured in the list include Big Sky in Montana USA, Okinawa in Japan, Sardinia in Italy, Phu Quoc in Vietnam and Ucluelet in Canada, among others.
Expedia have also given Hobart a ‘Smart Travel Health Check’ based on a framework aligned with World Travel + Tourism Council (WTTC).
The Smart Travel Health Check identifies destinations that offer rich cultural and natural experiences without the density seen in many of the world’s most popular cities.
The 2026 Destination of the Year list is determined by increases in flights and accommodation searches for travel on January 1-December 31, 2024 vs. January 1-December 31, 2025.
View the full ‘Unpack 26: The Trends In Travel’ report here: www.expedia.com.au/unpack26