Most Aussies staying at home this summer
Australians are continuing to tighten their belts with a new survey showing most are forgoing the traditional summer holiday this year,
choosing instead to stay home or close by and only taking relatively short breaks.
The new nationwide poll of 1200 Australians aged 18 to 64 has shown 55% won’t be going anywhere this summer, with a third (33%) holidaying in Australia, typically within their home state, three times more than the one in 10 (11%) travelling overseas despite the benefits of the high dollar and plentiful deals on offer.
The results, revealed in the latest round of survey series Crossman Insights, initiated by Sydney-based public relations consultancy Crossman Communications using the Newspoll Online Omnibus, found that of those heading off just over half (54%) are going for up to seven nights only with two in 10 (19%) going for just three nights or less.
Bunking down with family and friends is the preferred accommodation with 42% of those taking a holiday claiming this is where they will be staying and 42% believe they will be spending less than $1000 on all travel, accommodation, food and spending money for all people in their household travelling with them. Almost two in 10 Australians with children will be spending $500 or less on the entire family getaway.
Crossman Communications managing director, Jackie Crossman, said the survey findings indicate rising household costs and economic fears are continuing to impact everyday life and that nothing is sacred when people are forced to make budget cuts.
Australians love their summer holidays and we’re lucky that we have so many brilliant places to go within our own country with lots of accommodation options, from low budget camping and caravan parks to more expensive apartments and resorts, to choose from,” Ms Crossman said.
The Newspoll survey found a quarter of Queenslanders (25%) and New South Wales residents (24%) will be holidaying in their own state, along with 21% of Victorians and Western Australians and 16% of South Australians. Of those going overseas, 44% are going to Asia, 17% to New Zealand, 13% to Europe, 9% to North America and 6% to the Pacific Islands. Only 1% are heading to South America, 2% to the UK/Ireland, 3% to Africa and 4% to the Middle East.
Ms Crossman said Australians’ love affair with Asia, in particular Bali, is still very strong despite terrorism threats and natural disasters because the deals are great, the flights reasonably short and the culture and shopping appealing.
This is supported by an analysis of the most searched routes for the Christmas/New Year period by Australian sale airfare specialist www.GetFlight.com.au which reveals Singapore, Bali, Phuket and Bangkok are the top destinations within Asia with Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City also in the mix but much less popular.
While the Newspoll survey showed that staying with friends and family is the preferred accommodation, 22% will be staying in a hotel, 17% in an apartment or holiday house rental, 15% will be camping, 14% staying in a resort and 13% in a caravan or holiday park.
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