Press Release

Falling Aussie Dollar - 70 percent of travellers say no to overseas holidays: survey

December 1, 2008

The falling Aussie dollar has forced more than 70 per cent of Aussie travellers to reconsider any overseas holiday plans, according to a new survey.

Forty per cent of voters (364 people) said that money was tight and they would be travelling closer to home.

Another 31 per cent (279 people) said holidays were totally out of the question.

The totaltravel.com survey, which attracted 908 respondents, asked the question: "Given the falling Aussie dollar, are you planning any overseas holidays?"

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.

ENDS

Media enquires:
Paul Fisher
Global Marketing Manager
totaltravel.com
Phone +61 (0)2 6680-8755
Mobile 0404 057 367

About totaltravel.com
totaltravel.com was established in 2002 and is Australia’s leading online travel marketplace for travellers and travel suppliers. Travellers can research destinations, read the opinions of other travellers, find travel offers and then deal directly with travel suppliers to save money.