Road trips and regions to feature as Aussies stay home in 2019
A leading hotel group is predicting Aussies will look to holiday at home in 2019, with an increasing number embarking on a National Lampoon’s-style road trip across this wide brown land.
Oaks Hotels & Resorts forecasts the niche market segment of ‘road-tripping tribes’ to grow in 2019, with families increasingly choosing to swap the regular 9-5 for life on the road and a richer, more rewarding travel experience.
Oaks argues the serviced apartment sector experienced strong gains from the market in 2018 and will “continue to see an increase in family road trippers punctuating their travels with a stop off at family-friendly properties along the way in 2019”.
“There is a strong demand from these families for affordable, self-contained accommodation in key stop-off points across Australia to break up lengthy expeditions,” said Craig Hooley, chief operating officer of Minor Hotels for Australia and New Zealand.
While city properties are predicted to continue to top the most popular destinations in 2019, Hooley says regional Australia will enjoy strong visitation from domestic travellers.
“For so many Australians, the opportunity to explore their own backyard is becoming increasingly attractive as a travel proposition due to a softer Australian dollar and more competitive airfares being offered to convince Australians to stay and spend closer to home.
“And it is not just our vibrant cities expected to be the most popular; our unique regional destinations are making their way onto many holiday bucket lists, too.”
Tweed Coast, Port Stephens and Hunter Valley in NSW, Broome in WA and Glenelg in South Australia are among the regions forecast to benefit from higher visitor numbers.
It is Queensland, though, that looks likely to see the biggest rise in visitor number according to Hooley.
Tourism & Events Queensland data shows the sunshine state welcomed 22.5 million domestic visitors in the year ended June 2018, with average daily rates rising by $2.62 and steady revenue per available room despite a 3.2 percent rise in supply to November 2018 when compared to the previous year.
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.
