Australians are pulling back on Easter travel plans, with new data revealing widespread cancellations and shorter trips as cost pressures bite. However, industry hopes fresh fuel relief measures could still salvage late bookings and boost confidence.
Research from the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF), collected between 26 and 29 March, shows nearly half (41 per cent) of Australians have either cancelled or scaled back Easter travel. Many are choosing closer-to-home holidays, while others are cutting trip length or opting out altogether.
Road travel has taken the biggest hit. Intentions to holiday within the same state fell from 27 per cent to 21 per cent in a month. By contrast, interstate travel has held steady, edging up from 8 to 9 per cent, while international travel dipped only slightly from 4 to 3 per cent.
Despite the pullback, demand for travel remains resilient. Nearly a quarter (21 per cent) of Australians still rank holidays as their top discretionary spend, well ahead of dining out, clothing and subscriptions.
Earlier data also shows 70 per cent plan to travel this autumn. NSW, Queensland and Victoria lead domestic demand, while Japan and Europe – despite the Middle East crisis – top international wish lists.
With fuel relief now in place, the industry is watching closely for a lift in late bookings and renewed travel confidence.
“Australians are watching the current environment closely and adjusting their plans in real time,” TTF CEO Margy Osmond said.
“Our previous research shows people are willing to be flexible, whether that’s travelling closer to home, shortening trips or rethinking how they get away, but this Easter weekend will be the real test of how those intentions translate into action.
“Measures like the fuel excise cut are designed to ease pressure, and we’ll see over the coming days how much that shifts behaviour. What we do know is that most Australians aren’t giving up on holidays. They’re adapting to make them work.”
Who’s feeling it?
Osmond said Gen X travellers were feeling the impacts of fuel prices and global tensions the most. According to the TTF data, Gen X-ers were “the most likely to say they’d cancelled their Easter travel plans altogether”.
“By contrast, younger Australians appeared to be more adaptable with Gen Z travellers in particular opting to modify their plans and travel closer to home or shorten the length of time they’re away,” Osmond said.
In another study by Pureprofile, one in two respondents said higher fuel costs have influenced their plans. The survey, which polled over 1,000 Aussies in March, also found that nearly two-thirds now expect to stay home, while those travelling are opting for shorter, closer-to-home trips.
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