Television producer Sarah Ben-m’rad loves travelling overseas but the rising cost-of-living meant she sought out a holiday destination a little closer to home this year.
She and her boyfriend opted for a getaway to Port Stevens, north of Newcastle, outside the school holiday peak, spending days relaxing by a pool and visiting her father.
- “We were just trying to find somewhere that was a lot more affordable to travel rather than looking overseas,” she said.
- “We’re just doing smaller, cheaper trips rather than something that’s sort of bigger and more expensive.”
Ms Ben-m’rad is among the 83 per cent of Australians aged 25-44 who booked an autumn escape, according to a Tourism and Transport Forum survey.
The survey found that millennials are travelling more than anyone else, from mid-March to mid-May.
| Destination | % of International Travellers |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 14% |
| Europe | 13% |
| Japan | 12% |
Experts point to pent-up demand for a getaway after the pandemic along with travel operators changing their offers so budget-conscious customers can make their money go further.
“ “It’s not negotiable, this whole issue of being able to take time off and escape has become embedded in the culture,” Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond told AAP. “We saw very early on an attitude about revenge travel, I think that led to a change in traveller behaviours, she said. “…The survey found 40 per cent of Australians have put aside less than $2000 for their autumn trip and holidays within people’s own state or territory are still the most popular. “…What it’s doing is potentially meaning (people) might go for less time, they might spend a little bit less,” Ms Osmond explained.
Despite that, millennials are still the most likely group to go overseas with 18 per cent booking a foreign trip.
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 height of the COVID-19 pandemic along with airfares coming down, according to Helloworld Travel chief operating officer Cinzia Burnes.
- “…People that were going domestic are now going overseas,” Ms Burnes said.
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