e-Travel Blackboard: Falling Aussie Dollar Forces 70% of Travellers To Reconsider their Overseas Plans

e-Travel Blackboard: Falling Aussie Dollar Forces 70% of Travellers To Reconsider their Overseas Plans

Totaltravel.com recently conducted a survey which asked the question: “Given the falling Aussie Dollar, are you planning any overseas holidays?”

The survey, which attracted 980 respondents, found that the falling Aussie dollar has forced more than 70 percent of Australian travellers to reconsider any overseas plans.

Forty per cent of voters (364 people) said that would be holidaying closer to home this year to save money during the economic slowdown. Another 31 per cent (279 people) of respondents said holidays were totally out of the question.

Only 29 per cent of voters (265 people) stated that they were still going overseas for a holiday, no matter what the cost.

totaltravel.com global Marketing Manager Paul Fisher said the global financial crisis might have a positive impact on the Australian tourism industry.

“The fall in value of the Aussie dollar has seen overseas holidays become frighteningly expensive, with the Euro now worth twice our currency, and the US dollar not much further away,” Mr Fisher said.

“We will see more and more people spending their hard-earned cash on shorter holidays geographically closer to home.

“The growing demand for home-grown holidays, as well as the buzz surrounding the new Baz Lurhmann movie Australia, will deliver a much-needed boost for domestic tourism operators.

“There are plenty of bargain hunters out there and operators will need to ensure they put together attractive offers to make the most of this environment.”

Mr Fisher said there would also be an increase in the number of people navigating the internet for bargain holiday deals.