Gen Z said they’d fallen in love whilst travelling, while almost a quarter of millennials have taken up a new hobby after travelling.
Connection to culture: First Nations tourism is on the rise, with more than a third of Aussies (32%) interested in a First Nations experience whilst travelling and 14% actively taking the time to research the First Nations land they are travelling to. The Intrepid Travel Index combines Intrepid statistics, externally commissioned third-party research, and a global survey of local tour leaders.
Embracing the unpredictable
While the pandemic continues to impact day-to-day life, when it comes to travel, Aussies are keen to start exploring again, with 73% saying they will travel despite the threat of infection.
From sustainable stays, active adventures and going it alone to travelling for wellness and falling in love, the Intrepid Travel Index is a comprehensive report that uncovers the preferences, behaviours and motivators driving Aussies to travel in the post-COVID world.
As inflation and interest rates continue to peak across the nation, a new report from Intrepid Travel reveals Aussies prioritise travel despite the rising cost of living, with 4 in 5 (79%) planning a trip in the next 12 months.
Travel is back – Looking ahead to 2023, one thing is certain – Aussies intend on travelling.
Sarah Clark, Managing Director ANZ at Intrepid Travel, says, “The travel industry is very different from when we launched our last Index in 2019.
Based on a combination of Intrepid’s owned insights and externally commissioned research of more than 1,000 Australians, the report shows that while COVID remains top of mind, Aussies’ appetite for travel is stronger.
Further key findings include:
● The future is green: Sustainability and responsibility are no longer nice-to-haves. They’re non-negotiables for travellers. According to the survey, 4 in 5 (79%) Aussies are planning a trip next year, with 63% looking to travel domestically and 37% planning an overseas trip. According to the survey, 58% of Australians are conscious of catching COVID on an international trip, with more than a third (35%) changing the way they travel. As a result, opting for more off-the-beaten-track adventures in lesser-populated destinations. Regarding other health benefits, 59% say travel has decreased stress and burnout, and 46% say travel has broadened their horizons. We are excited to see the industry bounce back, providing more travellers with opportunities to experience lesser-known destinations, immerse themselves in local cultures and continue creating positive change through travel’s joy. Our customers have changed, and the way they want to travel has changed.
● Transformative travel: 1 in 3 (28%) According to the survey, almost half (46%) of Aussies have booked a holiday to improve their wellbeing, with one in two (55%) saying travel has positively impacted their mental health. Digging deeper, men are almost twice as likely (43%) to travel solo than women (28%), with 83% of women concerned about their safety compared to 71% of men.
Aussies are going it alone.
Aussies are adventurous, with more than two-thirds (68%) saying they’d consider travelling solo.
Mind matters
And while the pandemic brought the world to a grinding halt, it also gave us a rare opportunity to reassess the travel industry’s impacts and opportunities on it.” 89% of respondents said they would likely choose sustainable travel options for their next trip.
When it comes to bucket-list destinations, Italy came in the first place, followed by the USA in second and Antarctica coming in third. Travellers are also taking note of vaccines, with one in three (32%) opting to travel to countries with high vaccination rates. Alongside this, more than half (55%) said the current financial situation hadn’t impacted their travel plans. Vietnam, which topped the list in 2019, has remained a strong international holiday choice among Aussies, coming in at number three on the list of most popular destinations. Morocco has jumped from fourth to second place.
For the first time in the Index’s history, Australia has taken the top spot as the most popular destination.
Written by: William Trevan
