There are big spenders, and then there are Aussie travellers … Australians will spend more on travel than their counterparts in the US, UK, Canada, Japan and other countries, a major American Express Travel study found.
In its 2023 Global Travel Trends Report, American Express revealed that Australians would lead the way in leisure travel spend this year, with Aussies planning to fork out an average $7,740 on their holidays this year.
Despite concerns about the economy, the majority (76 per cent) of Australians in the study said they considered leisure travel an important budget priority for 2023.
Supporting this claim, nine in ten (89 per cent) of those polled said they intended to spend more or the same amount of money as last year. Nearly every Australian (97 per cent) plans on taking at least one trip in 2023.
Local heroes: What your clients really want from their travels
One of the most uplifting stats in the study was that the vast majority (85 per cent) of Australian travellers were interested in going on a vacation that supports local communities.
This is significantly higher than the interest shown by travellers from the US (77 per cent), UK (76 per cent), Canada (69 per cent) and Japan (48 per cent).
When it comes to inspiration for travelling, the report flagged four main trends:
– The Rise of “Set-Jetting”: People who travel to places they see onscreen
– Delicious Destinations: People who choose their destination based on what they’ll eat
– Wellness Waves: Travellers who prioritise self-care and mental and physical health
– Off the Beaten Path: Travellers who want to discover hidden gems and support local communities
“Travellers are getting inspiration from a number of places,” American Express Travel President Audrey Hendley said.
“Whether it’s engaging with local communities, recreating favourite onscreen moments, or planning an entire trip around a specific restaurant, one thing that’s clear is that people continue to value and feel passionately about travel.
“Vacations are precious, and travellers are prioritising personalised itineraries built around their passions, from planning an entire vacation for a single dinner reservation to getting the perfect video for TikTok.”
For more information on the report, click here.
