More Aussies head overseas for their beach holiday
With its endless coastline and world-famous beaches, Australia is a water baby’s dream come true.
Indeed, most Australians choose not to leave the country for their beach holidays, opting to sun themselves somewhere on home shores instead. Over the last decade, however, an increasing number of Aussie travellers are taking their beach holidays overseas.
In the 12 months to July 2013, one in six Australians (16.6%) took a ‘beach holiday’ (domestic or international) on their last holiday, a small drop from ten years ago, when it was 17.6%. The proportion of Aussies who chose a domestic beach holiday was 13.3%, down from 16.6% in July 2003; while those who chose an overseas beach holiday increased to 3.3% from 1.0% in the same period.
Among New Zealanders, 13.9% took a beach holiday on their last holiday, with 11.1% choosing a domestic beach destination, and 2.8% choosing an overseas one.
Percentage of Australian holidaymakers taking a ‘Beach Holiday’
Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), August 2002 – July 2013, average annual sample n = 14,340.
Jane Ianniello, international director of tourism, travel & leisure, Roy Morgan Research, says, “Over the last decade, more Australians have been choosing overseas beach holiday destinations such as Bali, Thailand, Fiji and Hawaii, over Australian coastal classics like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, and the Great Ocean Road.
“With cheap flights and a strong Australian dollar, overseas beach destinations offer Australian holidaymakers good value for money. Young singles and young childless couples, in particular, are more likely to choose an overseas beach holiday destination over a domestic one.
“The good news for Australian beach destinations is that sun, sand and surf aren’t their only drawcards. For instance, one-third of visitors to the Gold Coast go to a theme park, and almost half of those holidaying in the Great Ocean Road region are attracted by its scenery, rainforests and bushwalking opportunities.
“Understanding the demographics, attitudes and motivations of their target market will ensure that Australian beach destinations continue to attract Aussie holidaymakers even as international flights get cheaper and overseas beach holidays become more accessible.”
