Shocking as it may be for those in GenX, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the iconic film “Crocodile Dundee,” which provided the foundation for what many Americans know – or believe they do – about culture in Australia. In the 40 years since, Australia has become well-known around the world as a vacation spot. Tourists may want to avoid Dundee’s tussles with crocodiles, but the water buffalo and kangaroos featured in the film are another matter. Mix that in with thousands of beaches, the Great Barrier Reef and the vast Outback, and you get millions of visitors per year – about 8 million annually as of 2025, against a resident population of about 28 million.