May 27, 2021 9:22
Australian holidaymakers are spending less, taking shorter trips, and forking out for flexible flights as they live in fear of lockdowns derailing their plans, new data shows.
Skyscanner analysed searches and trip bookings through its website this year compared to 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic upended travel, and surveyed customers.
Travel Insight data gleaned from this analysis was provided to Tourism Australia to help create its ‘Escape to the City’ campaign to get travellers into hard-hit urban areas.
The data revealed international travellers trapped at home chose similar destinations in Australia, while old domestic favourites like the Gold Coast remained popular.
News by Jeremy Pierce
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Subscriber only Tourism leaders have been left dumbstruck after the industry was largely overlooked in last night s Budget. A $1.2 billion aviation package unveiled months ago and an extension of support for struggling zoos and aquariums were the only major announcements for a tourism industry which had until the 11th hour been begging for a reincarnation of the JobKeeper program. Some workers in the aviation sector will receive income support as part of a package announced in March and tourism leaders wanted a similar scheme to be introduced industry-wide. The Budget papers predicted a mass exodus of Aussies heading overseas as soon as they are able would far outweigh the benefits of foreign visitors returning to our shores.
Travel by Jeremy Pierce
Premium Content  Millions of dollars worth of free holiday experiences for Brisbane and the Whitsundays will be announced by the State Government today in another move to turbocharge Queensland s tourism recovery. Following the hugely successful Great Barrier Reef Holiday Dollars scheme, which broke the internet, some 30,000 vouchers for Brisbane experiences valued at $100 each, and 6000 $200 vouchers for the Whitsundays, will form a combined $4.2 million contribution to the state s tourism industry. It comes after
The Courier-Mail this month highlighted how Queensland s voucher promotion spending was being dwarfed by other states. However the latest initiative will take Queensland up to second on voucher spending, behind only NSW, with talks already under way to bring similar initiatives to other parts of the state including the Gold Coast, and a further round of promotions for the far north.
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A new study aims to research the possibility of linking the tourism industry and the field of environmental science in Queensland.
James Cook University PhD researcher Karmen Luzar is gathering evidence to help move towards a systemic collaboration between the two industries.
âTourism industry in Queensland is largely dependent on pristine environments and nature based tourism,â Ms Luzar said.
The tourism and environmental science sectors are both important for Queensland, with nature-based tourism being a key industry in the state.
Natural environments are constantly changing but this is not often taken into consideration by tourism offerings.
Two-speed economy hits WAâs South West as Perth tourists âdrive and dropâ
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The tourism industry in one of Western Australiaâs most popular holiday destinations is enduring a two-speed recovery from COVID-19 as visitors from Perth flock to hotels and watering holes but hold back from spending on tours and attractions.
Evan Lewis, managing director of Busseltonâs Broadwater Resort, said the hotel had been full almost every weekend this year and mid-week demand was solid.
The chief executive of the Busselton Jetty is calling on local tourists to âstop and hopâ to increase visitation at tours and attractions like this iconic WA site.