Almost four in five Australian families are planning at least one summer holiday despite cost-of-living pressures, with many cutting everyday spending to keep travel in the budget.
According to new Webjet research of more than 2,000 Australians, 78% of families intend to travel over summer, while 74% have deliberately reduced spending elsewhere.
Dining out and takeaway were the most common cuts at 68%, followed by shopping at 56%, entertainment at 53% and everyday treats such as coffee at 50%.
“Families are being very deliberate about how they make their summer holiday work,” said Nicole Sheffield, CEO and Managing Director, Webjet Group.
“They’re cutting back elsewhere, looking for ways to make their travel budget stretch further and making conscious choices about where they spend. For many families, that time away together remains something they’re willing to plan and save for.”
Holiday budgets remain under pressure, with 39% of families setting aside the same amount as last year and 38% working with less.
Around 42% would consider travelling outside peak periods to reduce costs, while 27% would use loyalty or frequent flyer points instead of cash.
Planning is also playing a bigger role, with 40% prepared to book as far ahead as possible to secure lower prices. More than a third of families planning a summer trip, 36%, have already booked or started researching a holiday package.
Domestic travel remains the most popular option, with 43% planning a trip within their home state and 42% heading interstate. Another 37% intend to travel overseas. Gold Coast currently leads domestic family bookings for summer, followed by Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.
Bali is the leading international destination, accounting for 18% of family bookings, followed by Auckland at 10%, Tokyo at 7%, Fiji at 5% and Christchurch at 3%.
Familiar destinations are also proving popular, with 68% of family travellers planning to return somewhere they have previously visited. Of those, 54% cited confidence in having a good experience and 40% pointed to value for money.
Top 10 international destinations booked by families for summer so far:
- Bali (18%)
- Auckland (10%)
- Tokyo (7%)
- Fiji (5%)
- Christchurch (3%)
- Los Angeles (3%)
- Singapore (2%)
- Queenstown (2%)
- Manila (2%)
- Samoa (2%)
