2025 is underway and with the new year, and plans for new year’s resolutions, Aussies are also
looking to plan upcoming travel. In research released by the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF),
62% of Australians say they’d likely take part in a ‘travel trend’ this summer.
This study, commissioned with Pure Profile, found that in Aussies’ next trips, they’d be
interested in taking part in popular trends, such as solo travel, using AI to plan their holiday, or
even using their vacations as a time to catch up on sleep or disconnect from their phones.
More than a quarter (28%) of Australians say they’d be likely ‘Intentionally travel’ for an
upcoming trip; and create a meaningful journey that aligns with their specific passions, rather
than just taking part in a typical ‘plug and play’ holiday.
16% of Australians also expressed they’d be likely to try travel to ‘unknown destinations’, opting
to explore less well-known locations.
TTF CEO, Margy Osmond, said, “When planning their holidays, Australians are looking to travel
differently. Since international and domestic borders have reopened, there has been an influx
of travellers, creating potentially overwhelming environments for both locals and visitors.
As a result, Australians have expressed their desire to holiday intentionally, and to areas less
documented on social media.”
Aussies also indicated their interest in a ‘Sleepcation’, a holiday booked for the purpose of
getting a good night’s sleep. This trend was most popular with 24-35s, with 16% of this age
group expressing their interest.
Solo travel was also particularly popular with 18-24s (26%) and 25-34s (22%).
Ms Osmond said, “Under 35s aren’t waiting around until they’ve found someone to travel with.
Around a quarter of young Aussies are booking in holidays and heading away on their own,
planning to meet people and make friends at the destinations they’re headed to.”
When asked what accommodation types they’d be comfortable to travel in, 73% of Australians
said they’d feel safe solo travelling if they stayed in hotels. This was similar for both men and
women. However, men were more comfortable to solo travel in hostels and other shared
accommodation, compared to women (18% vs. 13%).
Women were more inclined to travel solo than men if booked into an organised tour (43% vs.
34%), while cruising was also a popular option for both (36% men vs. 38% women).
11% of women said they would not be comfortable to solo travel through any of the suggested
accommodation types, a sentiment that was shared by slightly fewer men at 8%.
This study was commissioned with Pure Profile and surveyed a nationally representative
sample of 2,011 Australians between 20-25 November 2024. More findings included:
- The most popular travel trend for the 2024/25 summer is Intentional Travel – creating a
meaningful journey that aligns with the traveller’s passions. This is a travel style that
28% of Australians said they’d be likely to take part in. - Travelling sustainably, with more environmentally focused habits, was most
popular with younger age groups. 18% of 18-24s, 21% of 25-34s and 19% of 35-44s said
they’d be likely to travel this way. - ‘Flocking’ (using travel to escape the digital world and forge real-life connections) is
also most popular with under 45s, with 10% of each of these age groups indicating their
willingness to travel this way. - 25-34s were the most interested age group in a ‘Sleepcation’ (booking a holiday for
the purpose of getting a good night’s sleep), with 16% of the age group saying they’d
be likely to take part in a holiday of this kind. - Men are slightly more likely than women to want to travel less well-known
destinations, with 17% interested, compared to 15%. - 7% of Aussies want to take the stress out of planning a holiday, instead using AI to
plan and book their next vacation. This trend is most popular with under 35s, with 12%
of both age groups saying they’d likely participate in this trend. - 15% of Australians are likely to travel solo on an upcoming trip. This is most popular
with 18-24s (26%) and 25-34s (22%) compared to older age groups. - Men are more comfortable solo travelling through hostels (18%) compared to
women (13%). Women are more comfortable solo travelling on organised tours
(43%) compared to men (34%). - Solo-travelling on a cruise is most popular with older generations (40% of 45-64s, and
41% of over 65s). - All ages, and men and women, by far, said they’d be most comfortable solo travelling
and staying in hotels, as indicated by 73% of Australians.
ENDS