A definitive increase in the number of Australians traveling during the holiday had been evident this year in participation of the Great Aussie Drive. Research shows that the number of participants who joined the craze have increased dramatically this year making 88.9 million trips overnight, either locally or to other parts of the country.
Those who traveled by car made up 75% of the numbers, a 7.2% raise from the recorded number of the previous year. Domestic flights, on the other hand, were up by 5%; responsible for 24% of the total number.
The inflation brought about a mark-down in the price of petrol and a build-up in domestic airfare.
According to one of the spokesman for the Tourism Research Australia, the exchange rate depletion paved the way in persuading Australians to travel in their own country.
“The lower Australian dollar has had a marked effect on interstate holiday travel, which continues to reach record levels — up by nine per cent to reach a record 10.7 million trips,” said the spokesman.
“This is the largest number of interstate holiday trips since the National Visitor Survey commenced in 1998.”
A road trip revival was brought about by a 9% hike in caravan parks and camping ground overnight visitors—an increase that supersedes public lodging such as hotels, motels, and holiday rental properties. Non-commercial caravan and camping grounds have also seen a massive increase in their night stays—a 22% to 17.5M increase.
Milton Family at the Barwon Heads Caravan Park. Picture: Peter Ristevski Source:News Corp Australia
According to the CEO of Tourism Accommodation Australia, Ms. Carol Giuseppi, Aussie’s are catered with accommodation options.
“Australia’s accommodation industry has become far more adaptive, providing new-style products to meet new demands,” said Carol.
“Not only are existing hotel operators providing up-market tented product, they are addressing the needs of millennial travelers by providing more distinctive accommodation styles to sit alongside their more traditional brands.”
According to Mark Manteit, CEO of Australian Tourist Park Management, the “changing expectations” of travelers paved the way for providing a variety of accommodation options—from villas to “glamp sites.”
“Luxury camping or glamping has been a fun option for couples for some time but we are now seeing families embracing this style of holiday,” said Mark.
“Time poor Mums and Dads often want easier alternatives to towing a caravan or pitching a tent.”
Other states such as Darwin and the Northern territory have also been a part of the league of preferred travel destinations and are backed with a massive 28%hike in expenditures and a 36% surge in the number of visitors.
Queensland’s Whitsundays’ tourist population was up by 30.5% and Canberra, its national capital, had experienced a 17% increase in domestic vacationers.
CEO Margy Osmond of the Tourism and Transportation Forum said that the facts and figures are tremendously favorable.
“Australians are spending $162 million a day on domestic tourism and that is a great result for the nation’s visitor economy,” she said.
Full article by Robyn Ironside courtesy of News.com.au
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