The tourism sector hopes new fuel relief measures starting today will encourage more Australians to go ahead with their Easter travel plans, after recent cancellations and scaled-back trips.
Data from the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) gathered between the 26th and 29th of March revealed that 41% of Australians had either cancelled or scaled back their Easter travel in response to current events[1]. Some travellers opted to holiday closer to home, while others shortened their trips, and others cancelled their trips altogether.
TTF CEO Margy Osmond said, “Australians are watching the current environment closely and adjusting their plans in real time. Our previous research shows people are willing to be flexible, whether that’s travelling closer to home, shortening trips or rethinking how they get away, but this Easter weekend will be the real test of how those intentions translate into action.
“Measures like the fuel excise cut are designed to ease pressure, and we’ll see over the coming days how much that shifts behaviour. What we do know is that most Australians aren’t giving up on holidays. They’re adapting to make them work.”
“What we have seen in our data is that the impacts of fuel prices and global tensions are being felt the most heavily among Gen X travellers who were the most likely to say they’d cancelled their Easter travel plans altogether. By contrast, younger Australians appeared to be more adaptable with Gen Z travellers in particular opting to modify their plans and travel closer to home or shorten the length of time they’re away.”
Compared to travel intentions at the end of February, road trips look to be the most impacted this long weekend, with the proportion of Australians planning to travel within their own state dropping from 27% to 21% in one month. Interstate travel, mostly consisting of pre-booked flights, has remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 8% to 9%. Overseas travel has also fallen slightly from 4% to 3%.
Despite these shifts, and a high-cost environment, Australians remain eager to travel with holidays remaining a top priority. When asked which non-essential items they would continue to prioritise, 21% of Australians said travel and holidays would remain their number one spending priority, far ahead of personal care (14%), dining out (10%), clothing (12%), gifts (14%), and streaming and digital subscriptions (11%)[2].
This is reflected with previous data finding that 70% of Australians planned to take a holiday during autumn. Thirty percent planned to holiday within their own state, while 25% planned to travel interstate, and another 15% intended to travel internationally.
Ms Osmond said, “Australians have proven their commitment to travel time and time again. We don’t quit; we adapt. Holidays will remain a priority, even if that means trips are shorter, closer to home, or more budget-conscious. Against a backdrop of uncertainty and economic pressure, we’re placing even greater value on time away, and spending it with friends and family, making memories, and seeking new adventures.”
Popular destinations for domestic travel this season look to include New South Wales (29% of domestic travellers), Queensland (27%) and Victoria (23%), with cities Sydney (11% of domestic travellers), Melbourne (9%) and the Gold Coast (8%) leading the way. For international trips, Europe (14% of those travelling internationally) and Japan (12%) top the list, followed by the USA (8%), New Zealand (8%), Bali/Indonesia and Thailand (both 6%).
[1] Research commissioned from polling company Pureprofile, with a nationally representative sample size of 1,008 Australians aged 18 – 65+, with responses collected from 26 – 30 March 2026.
[2] Research commissioned from polling company Pureprofile, with a nationally representative sample size of 1,510 Australians aged 18 – 65+, with responses collected from 27 February – 6 March 2026.