The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released figures on travel trends for 2010, with record numbers coming to and from Australia.

5.9 million international arrivals came to our shores, up 300,000 on last year with just under half (46%) citing a holiday as their main reason for visiting.

Seeing friends and family was the next most common reason at 24%, business purposes at 11%, education at 6%, and employment and conventions making up 3% of the total. Queensland was the primary destination for 25% of travellers.

Not surprising, many people took advantage of cheaper airfares and a high Australian dollar at 7.1 million left the country on short term trips.

New Zealand was the location of choice in 2010 as over 1 million Australians headed to the "land of the long white cloud." Next best was Indonesia with 739,000, followed by the US with 684,000 and the UK saw 457,000 Australian visitors.