The lure of a summer escape is a familiar one for many Australians, but this year, the rising cost-of-living has led some to opt for a more budget-friendly destination – within their own backyard. Australia’s autumn escapes are no longer just for the school holidays, with many opting for shorter, more affordable trips to nearby destinations. According to a pure profile survey of 1509 Australians, millennials are travelling more than anyone else, from mid-March to mid-May, with 83 per cent of those aged 25-44 booking an autumn escape. Millennials are the most likely group to travel, with 18 per cent booking a foreign trip, despite the rising cost-of-living. The Tourism and Transport Forum’s survey found that 40 per cent of Australians have put aside less than $2000 for their autumn trip, with many opting for holidays within their own state or territory. This is because international travel is no longer seen as a discretionary expense, but rather as a necessity for some, with airfares coming down and the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a distant memory. “The whole issue of being able to take time off and escape has become embedded in the culture,” tourism chief executive Margy Osmond explained.
“We saw very early on an attitude about revenge travel, I think that led to a change in traveller behaviours,”
she said. This revenge travel attitude has led to a shift in traveller behaviour, with many opting for domestic travel instead of international. Despite the rising cost-of-living, many Australians are still opting for international travel, with 14 per cent of international travellers heading to New Zealand and 13 per cent to Europe. The United States has dropped out of the top five for Australian travellers. But what’s driving this shift towards domestic travel? Experts point to pent-up demand from the pandemic, as well as travel operators changing their offers to cater to budget-conscious customers.
- People are finally used to the idea of international travel after the COVID-19 pandemic
- Airfares have come down, making international travel more accessible
- Travel operators are offering more affordable options
The tourism and transport forum also notes that 40 per cent of Australians have put aside less than $2000 for their autumn trip, which may lead to a decrease in the length of trips or the amount of money spent. But despite this, millennials are still the most likely group to travel. The survey found that millennials are travelling more than anyone else, with 83 per cent of those aged 25-44 booking an autumn escape. This is because they are more likely to be looking for affordable options, with 40 per cent putting aside less than $2000 for their trip. New Zealand is the top foreign destination, followed by Europe and Japan, with 14 per cent of international travellers heading to each of these destinations. Despite this, many Australians are still opting for domestic travel, with 40 per cent of Australians booking a holiday within their own state or territory.
| Destination | Australia’s share | Foreign share |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 14% | 14% |
| Europe | 13% | 13% |
| Japan | 12% | 12% |
According to Helloworld Travel chief operating officer Cinzia Burnes, people are finally used to the idea of international travel after the COVID-19 pandemic, and airfares have come down, making international travel more accessible. “Before COVID-19 travel was seen as a discretionary expense and I think now it’s become part of the household budget,” she said. This shift in traveller behavior has led to a change in the way people approach travel, with many opting for domestic travel instead of international. The tourism and transport forum also notes that travel operators are changing their offers to cater to budget-conscious customers, with 40 per cent of Australians having put aside less than $2000 for their autumn trip. This may lead to a decrease in the length of trips or the amount of money spent, but despite this, millennials are still the most likely group to travel. Overall, almost one in six Australians are heading overseas, close to double the number who jetted off this time last year. People are finally used to the idea of international travel after the COVID-19 pandemic, and airfares have come down, making international travel more accessible. This shift in traveller behavior is driven by a combination of factors, including pent-up demand from the pandemic, travel operators changing their offers, and a shift in the way people approach travel.
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