Zillennial travel: Airbrush is out & Authentic is in
It's a new era of travel for young Aussies as they ditch the 'gram' and TikTok to make real and raw travel memories
New research reveals that young Aussies are no longer seeking Instagram-worthy travel moments, instead, they want real, raw, and surprising travel experiences. Zillennials want to make memories in the moment without pressure to be perfect.
Our latest AccomNews print issue is available now. Read it HERE
In a world consumed by TikTok dances and Instagram filters, new research from global touring company Contiki reveals that while almost half of Zillennial travellers (49 percent) say they have tried to plan the perfect moment while on a holiday, 70 percent say they would prefer to leave perfect travel moments to coincidence, for them to happen naturally.
Zillennial social detox holidays
No longer are Zillennials capturing their ‘perfect moment’ for social media, instead three in ten are preferring to remember their holiday by taking pictures for their own personal collection.
No longer do Aussies want to experience that epic, movie-worthy proposal abroad, in fact, research has revealed being proposed to or proposing to someone is the last thing Zillennial travellers want to experience when it comes to creating the perfect travel moment (24 percent).
For Aussies, what makes a ‘perfect moment’ is enjoying food or drink with a view which comes out on top (51 percent), followed by watching a sunrise or sunset with friends or family (49 percent) or experiencing something funny that becomes a story to tell for years to come (46 percent).
What goes on tour, lives on forever
A growing trend with Zillennials is going solo on a group tour, 39 percent of Aussies say that group tours make a trip more memorable, with almost half of travellers agreeing that spending time with people physically on holiday is more important than ever, especially now we live in a more virtual world (49 percent).
Toni Ambler, MD of travel brand Contiki said: “Over the past 12 months, one of our big observations of Contiki travellers is that now more than ever, they are embracing the social side of group travel.
“In a digital world where you can work, study, shop and even order food without physically interacting with another person, spending real time with real people is what makes a trip truly unforgettable. It’s often the special, sometimes unexpected moments on these trips that leave the deepest impact, becoming stories they go on to remember and retell for years to come.
“That’s why more and more Zillennials are coming to realise the best memories are not curated. And they certainly don’t have to be perfect. They just need to feel real.”
Aussies want to be pushed out of their comfort zones
While rest and respite are important for a trip, thrill-seeking Aussies want holidays that push them out of their comfort zones for a truly memorable travel experience. Almost half of travellers (45 percent) say stepping out of their comfort zone is what makes a holiday or trip memorable, and 41 percent say they would like to step out of their comfort zone between three and five times. Thirty percent of Aussies even opted for doing something adrenaline-based like a bungee jump.
It doesn’t have to take adrenaline, even just simply trying something new can be enough to satisfy. Almost a quarter (22 percent) of respondents say taking part in five to six new experiences makes a memorable holiday or trip. Travellers pick holiday destinations based on the moments they might be able to experience, such as seeing certain animals or a specific landmark, while they are there (48 percent).
The online research was conducted on behalf of Contiki by OnePoll between April 3 to April 13, 2023.
Read about it HERE
Mandy has over 17 years of accommodation and tourism industry writing experience and is Editor of AccomNews & Resort News, Publisher of SchoolNews & Director of Multimedia Pty Ltd. She is a retired registered nurse with a 25-year NHS career that followed a few unforgettable years in hotel housekeeping.
