Older Australians would tighten their belts at home to keep packing bags with 81 per cent willing to cut back on disposable spending to travel and almost two in five (39%) Aussie seniors taking a big trip in the past year.
While 90 per cent of Aussies over 50 acknowledge the rising cost of holidays, a new Australian Seniors survey shows increasing travel demand despite affordability concerns.
The 2025 Grey Gap Year Report found the number of Aussie seniors taking a big holiday in the past year has doubled since 2022 (39% vs 18%), signalling a strong resurgence in travel among this demographic.
A whopping 75 per cent of Aussie seniors still have firm future travel plans, and to make these trips a reality, 81 per cent are prepared to cut back on other spending, such as impulse shopping (54%) and dining out (53%).
Almost two in three (64%) say they feel comfortable using their retirement savings for travel.
The report also highlights a shift in how seniors like to travel with multigenerational travel, cruising, beach escapes, solo travel and slow travel on the rise.
Europe has emerged as the most popular ‘big trip’ destination for over-50s, followed by Australia and the South Pacific.
Plans for domestic holidays within Australia have dropped since 2022 (from 48% to 32%) with the renewed interest in overseas travel.
Travel barriers and considerations for extended travel among older Aussies include financial constraints (62%), health concerns (35%) and home responsibilities (35%).
In addition, 75 per cent are actively avoiding certain regions due to concerns like terrorism (Middle East, 58%), ongoing conflicts (Eastern Europe, 51%), high crime (Central America, 45%) and visa policies (USA, 44%).
Read the full report here.
