A Snapshot of 2022 Travel Trends
To say it was an interesting year for the travel industry would be an understatement. When Australian borders finally reopened late last year after two tumultuous years of COVID restrictions and lockdowns, Australians were ready to jump on a plane as soon as they could. What ensued was a chaotic year of around-the-clock bookings, never-before-seen short lead times, availability issues and skyrocketing costs. Although it was challenging, 2022 was also an eye-opening, fun, and educational year. We were all required to think innovatively, work on our toes, and tap into our passion for travel.
As we approach the end of the year, we’ve been reflecting on one of the busiest, most unique years we have ever experienced in the travel business. Below is a snapshot of the key trends that defined post-pandemic travel in Australia.
KEY TRENDS
When those borders opened, travellers were ready to jump on a plane as soon as possible, resulting in shorter lead times than normal for this market
Travellers were keen to take longer trips, largely due to the amount of time they were unable to travel – even domestically – during COVID
Celebratory trips, catch ups and multi-generation trips that weren't possible over the past few years saw a strong resurgence
Not only were overall trips longer, but travellers were also spending more time in each destination, as opposed to fitting in multiple stops in a short amount of time
Clients were interested in travelling through destinations in more depth, seeking out more authentic, immersive, and off-the-beaten-track options in less touristy parts of the world
Clients were eager to build in experiences as a key focus
Clients opted to stay in higher room categories and suites than pre-COVID
DESTINATIONS IN GROWING DEMAND
Fiji and the Maldives were some of the first destinations Australians headed to, due to their early management of COVID and quarantine requirements. Interest remains strong for these island destinations, where the ‘one island, one resort’ philosophy means travellers aren’t exposed to large groups of people
Europe was huge for Australians in 2022 and continues to be a priority for 2023. Italy and Greece are by far the most popular destinations
The US was a little less popular for the northern hemisphere 2022 summer, but interest and bookings started to pick up in last quarter of the year
Clients are heading back to Africa, Mexico and South America
A lot of travellers were waiting for Japan to open and as soon as it did, bookings started
Skiing saw a big year for our clients, with many heading off to enjoy the Northern Hemisphere winter
Cruising in general is on the rise
PREDICTIONS FOR 2023
Planning ahead is going to be more important then ever for future travel. Despite recent flight and airport disruptions and economic factors such as interest rates hikes, our clients are still keen to make up for lost time
Airfares are still highly inflated due to airlines not being at full capacity yet. Our best advice is to book early where possible
Accommodation rates are also inflated and extremely fluid, with the hot hotels in the most popular destinations selling out quickly
We are constantly receiving enquiries and bookings from new clients (in addition to our network of regular clients), which shows that interest in travel is definitely not slowing & knowing you have an agent in your corner is clearly important in this new travel age
People are ready to explore the world deeper, heading to destinations they haven’t travelled before