Prompted by soaring airfares and high flight cancellation rates and delays, many Australians are eyeing holidays closer to home, a new survey of travellers has revealed. Is this you?
In the InsureandGo poll, seven in ten (68 per cent) respondents said they intended to plan holidays closer to home, especially domestically, instead of major trips abroad.
Meanwhile, nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of those polled said they would opt for trips that involved ground transport (for instance, driving and rail holidays) over flight-based holidays.
According to InsureandGo, the results show a lot of consumers remain flexible when it comes to considering vacation options.
But air travel-related woes aren’t deterring everyone, with one-third (32 per cent) of pollees intending to maintain their usual travel habits, including planning long-haul getaways.
Of those who plan to holiday closer to home, seven in ten (69 per cent) said they would up the number of vacations they would take in lieu of longer trips abroad.
Short or long-haul, travel is still hot
“Australians will be exploring more of their own country this year as they seek more cost-effective and accessible travel,” InsureandGo spokesperson and chief commercial officer Jonathan Etkind says.
“However, travel is still very much a priority for many people, and our results show a desire to squeeze in more trips and explore new places a little closer to home.”
Etkind said the survey suggested “a significant shift in Australians’ holiday preferences”.
“However, travel disturbances can happen whether you are travelling internationally or planning a short getaway, and cancellations, severe weather and lost luggage are still prevalent on these short holidays,” he remarked.
“Obtaining travel insurance may help travellers avoid unexpected large out-of-pocket costs on your short-term travel plans, at a cost-effective price.”
According to a survey conducted earlier this year, two in three (68 per cent) Aussies said they intended to purchase domestic travel insurance for their next Australian holiday.
The survey took into account the opinions of 1,001 Australian adults.
