Tropical paradise tops list of most popular holiday destinations for Australians
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With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start planning where you’d like to escape to this time around.
Whether it’s a winter wonderland you’re after or sun-drenched paradise beaches that will make you feel miles away from the cares of everyday life, there’s an ideal destination out there for you.
To make things even easier for you, the team over at Expedia have released research that will point you in the right direction for a dream holiday.
Unsurprisingly, the Indonesian tourist haven Bali tops the list for Aussies’ year-end travel plans, according to Expedia’s latest data.
Asian destinations take centre stage in the top 10 locations Aussies are eyeing for their Christmas and New Year getaways.
Denpasar in Indonesia, home to Bali’s main airport, secures the top spot, followed by Bangkok and Singapore. Phuket, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur also find their place on the list.
The preference for nearby destinations remains strong among Aussie travellers, emphasising accessibility and convenience as they gear up for the busiest travel period of the year.
‘Were not surprised to see these new destinations on the list,’ Expedia Australia Managing Director Daniel Finch said.
‘Bali has always been a favourite holiday destination for Aussies, and our data consistently supports this, with Bali coming in as the top destination for Aussies travellers throughout the year.
‘The strength of the Aussie dollar is a heavy load on the total cost of trips, and these closer-to-home Asian destinations are providing good value for money, particularly with food, beverages and accommodation costs, which are significantly cheaper when looking to convert the Aussie dollar.’
As of now, 1 Australian dollar equals 10,111.991 Indonesian Rupiahs (Rp). For local expenses, a half-litre of domestic beer is priced at $4.94 or 50,000Rp.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre for a month costs 9,793,517.95 Rp or $968.56. Remarkably, this amount is comparable to a week’s rent in some major Aussie cities.
According to Mr Finch, Aussies are drawn to these destinations primarily due to affordability and accessibility.
Bali, in particular, with its renowned surf, delectable cuisine, vibrant party scene, and warm and inviting culture, stands out as a favourite.
In May, Denpasar welcomed nearly 110,000 Australian tourists, highlighting Aussies as the most frequent international visitors to the island.
‘Previously we had different trending destinations (before COVID) that were further abroad, such as the States and Europe (for end-of-year travel) dominating,’ Mr Finch said.
‘But right now, the Aussie dollar is terrible for these locations.’
London holds its ground in third place on the list. Despite the Australian dollar only fetching 0.52 GBP, Aussies seem eager to visit.
In comparison, it’s 0.63 USD in the US and 0.60 in Europe.
‘A hamburger in the US may look cheap at $US13, but after you convert it, it’s about $20 Aussie dollars, and that’s without tax or tipping. So you’re losing a lot of money,’ Mr Finch added.
‘Travellers would rather save and go on shorter trips and use that money on spending.’
While European destinations didn’t make the list, Aussies managed to travel earlier in the year despite facing higher airfares and ongoing cost-of-living challenges.
The August report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on overseas arrivals and departures revealed a significant increase.
Australian residents recorded 2,583,660 returns from short-term trips between June and August, marking a surge of 913,780 compared to last year.
Interestingly, a recent Finder survey highlighted that 15 per cent of Aussies remained committed to overseas holidays despite cost-of-living challenges and initial travel interruptions due to the pandemic.
Travel Insurance Expert Gary Hunter at Finder said that while the cost of living crisis has made international travel ‘out of reach’ for plenty of Aussies, it hasn’t stopped us all.
‘There’s still plenty who are desperate to jet off. Some are even cutting back on essentials to save up some cash to go on holiday,’ he pointed out.
On another note, Los Angeles secured the sixth spot in the top 10. Mr Finch attributes this to parents fulfilling promises of Disneyland trips for their children.
‘We are seeing them spend roughly seven to 10 nights in California and then a few days in Hollywood for a bit of shopping,’ he explained.
Video source: Facebook/@latimes
Perhaps it’s wise to set aside money, given the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) forecast that the Australian dollar will fall below $0.60 against the US dollar by the start of 2024.
Meanwhile, in fifth place is Auckland in New Zealand, a destination that perhaps unsurprisingly makes frequent appearances on the trending list for end-of-year trips.
‘It’s just three hours away and a quick and fairly easy trip to take,’ Mr Finch said. ‘By way of currency, it’s almost dollar for dollar.’
Singapore holds the fifth spot on the list, marking a recent surge in popularity for this Asian destination.
According to Mr Finch, travellers are beginning to view Singapore beyond its role as a corporate hub, recognising its appeal through various high-end and affordable dining options, stunning hotels, and enticing shopping experiences.
Expedia’s recent research also reveals that the top 10 fastest-growing destinations on the platform are exclusively in Asia.
Sapporo, Japan, takes the lead, followed by Shanghai in China, Apia in Samoa, Taipei in Taiwan, and Guangzhou, China.
Hong Kong and Jeju in South Korea secure the sixth and seventh positions, with Tokyo, Osaka, and Phu Quoc in Vietnam rounding off the list.
These rankings are based on Expedia’s 2023 flight demand to date, compared to the same period last year.
Expedia has introduced a significant change to its app with the launch of Trip Planner.
According to Mr Finch, this industry-first feature simplifies travel planning and enables collaboration on group getaways directly within the app.
‘We are trying to make it easier for couples, families and groups to plan and save and also create good itineraries and get surface content to them that is relevant,’ he shared.
Expedia has introduced a chatbot enabling travellers to type in queries like ‘best hotels in Bali’, and the feature swiftly generates an itinerary in seconds.
‘You can then save it to your “trip board” so it will save you heaps of time scrolling.’
The anticipated rollout of the new feature is in late 2023.
Members, within this lineup of top travel destinations, which one would you like to visit? If you've already been to any, share your experiences in the comments below!
Whether it’s a winter wonderland you’re after or sun-drenched paradise beaches that will make you feel miles away from the cares of everyday life, there’s an ideal destination out there for you.
To make things even easier for you, the team over at Expedia have released research that will point you in the right direction for a dream holiday.
Unsurprisingly, the Indonesian tourist haven Bali tops the list for Aussies’ year-end travel plans, according to Expedia’s latest data.
Asian destinations take centre stage in the top 10 locations Aussies are eyeing for their Christmas and New Year getaways.
Denpasar in Indonesia, home to Bali’s main airport, secures the top spot, followed by Bangkok and Singapore. Phuket, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur also find their place on the list.
The preference for nearby destinations remains strong among Aussie travellers, emphasising accessibility and convenience as they gear up for the busiest travel period of the year.
Bali tops the list for end-of-year travel plans. Image source: Pixabay
‘Were not surprised to see these new destinations on the list,’ Expedia Australia Managing Director Daniel Finch said.
‘Bali has always been a favourite holiday destination for Aussies, and our data consistently supports this, with Bali coming in as the top destination for Aussies travellers throughout the year.
‘The strength of the Aussie dollar is a heavy load on the total cost of trips, and these closer-to-home Asian destinations are providing good value for money, particularly with food, beverages and accommodation costs, which are significantly cheaper when looking to convert the Aussie dollar.’
As of now, 1 Australian dollar equals 10,111.991 Indonesian Rupiahs (Rp). For local expenses, a half-litre of domestic beer is priced at $4.94 or 50,000Rp.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre for a month costs 9,793,517.95 Rp or $968.56. Remarkably, this amount is comparable to a week’s rent in some major Aussie cities.
According to Mr Finch, Aussies are drawn to these destinations primarily due to affordability and accessibility.
Bali, in particular, with its renowned surf, delectable cuisine, vibrant party scene, and warm and inviting culture, stands out as a favourite.
In May, Denpasar welcomed nearly 110,000 Australian tourists, highlighting Aussies as the most frequent international visitors to the island.
‘Previously we had different trending destinations (before COVID) that were further abroad, such as the States and Europe (for end-of-year travel) dominating,’ Mr Finch said.
‘But right now, the Aussie dollar is terrible for these locations.’
London holds its ground in third place on the list. Despite the Australian dollar only fetching 0.52 GBP, Aussies seem eager to visit.
In comparison, it’s 0.63 USD in the US and 0.60 in Europe.
‘A hamburger in the US may look cheap at $US13, but after you convert it, it’s about $20 Aussie dollars, and that’s without tax or tipping. So you’re losing a lot of money,’ Mr Finch added.
‘Travellers would rather save and go on shorter trips and use that money on spending.’
While European destinations didn’t make the list, Aussies managed to travel earlier in the year despite facing higher airfares and ongoing cost-of-living challenges.
Expedia notes that Aussies prioritise accessibility and convenience for New Year travel, hence their preference for nearby destinations. Image source: Pixabay
The August report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on overseas arrivals and departures revealed a significant increase.
Australian residents recorded 2,583,660 returns from short-term trips between June and August, marking a surge of 913,780 compared to last year.
Interestingly, a recent Finder survey highlighted that 15 per cent of Aussies remained committed to overseas holidays despite cost-of-living challenges and initial travel interruptions due to the pandemic.
Travel Insurance Expert Gary Hunter at Finder said that while the cost of living crisis has made international travel ‘out of reach’ for plenty of Aussies, it hasn’t stopped us all.
‘There’s still plenty who are desperate to jet off. Some are even cutting back on essentials to save up some cash to go on holiday,’ he pointed out.
On another note, Los Angeles secured the sixth spot in the top 10. Mr Finch attributes this to parents fulfilling promises of Disneyland trips for their children.
‘We are seeing them spend roughly seven to 10 nights in California and then a few days in Hollywood for a bit of shopping,’ he explained.
Video source: Facebook/@latimes
Perhaps it’s wise to set aside money, given the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) forecast that the Australian dollar will fall below $0.60 against the US dollar by the start of 2024.
Meanwhile, in fifth place is Auckland in New Zealand, a destination that perhaps unsurprisingly makes frequent appearances on the trending list for end-of-year trips.
‘It’s just three hours away and a quick and fairly easy trip to take,’ Mr Finch said. ‘By way of currency, it’s almost dollar for dollar.’
Singapore tops the list in fifth place. Image source: Pixabay
Singapore holds the fifth spot on the list, marking a recent surge in popularity for this Asian destination.
According to Mr Finch, travellers are beginning to view Singapore beyond its role as a corporate hub, recognising its appeal through various high-end and affordable dining options, stunning hotels, and enticing shopping experiences.
Expedia’s recent research also reveals that the top 10 fastest-growing destinations on the platform are exclusively in Asia.
Sapporo, Japan, takes the lead, followed by Shanghai in China, Apia in Samoa, Taipei in Taiwan, and Guangzhou, China.
Hong Kong and Jeju in South Korea secure the sixth and seventh positions, with Tokyo, Osaka, and Phu Quoc in Vietnam rounding off the list.
These rankings are based on Expedia’s 2023 flight demand to date, compared to the same period last year.
Top destinations for Aussie travellers in late 2023/2024. Source: Expedia
Expedia has introduced a significant change to its app with the launch of Trip Planner.
According to Mr Finch, this industry-first feature simplifies travel planning and enables collaboration on group getaways directly within the app.
‘We are trying to make it easier for couples, families and groups to plan and save and also create good itineraries and get surface content to them that is relevant,’ he shared.
Expedia has introduced a chatbot enabling travellers to type in queries like ‘best hotels in Bali’, and the feature swiftly generates an itinerary in seconds.
‘You can then save it to your “trip board” so it will save you heaps of time scrolling.’
The anticipated rollout of the new feature is in late 2023.
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