Sabra Lane: Australians are heading overseas in record numbers, driven by a phenomenon dubbed revenge travel, as they make up for lost time following the COVID-19 border restrictions. Despite the cost of living crisis, international trips have now surged beyond pre-pandemic levels as Aussies attempt to reconnect with the world. National tourism reporter Kristy Sexton-McGrath explains.

Kristy Sexton-McGrath: At the Cairns International Airport in far north Queensland, Lachlan Pou and his partner Ebony Dayer are feeling exhausted but happy as they return from a dream holiday in Japan.

Lachlan Pou: We spent about 12 days over there. I saw Tokyo for the first time, which is a beautiful, beautiful city. And then, yeah, we sort of spent the other five nights in Kyoto. So I saw a lot of like the heritage and culture there, which is beautiful. It was a great trip.

Kristy Sexton-McGrath: They’re part of a new wave of travellers driven by the phenomenon known as revenge travel, a surge in trips sparked by the desire to explore the world again after being confined during the pandemic.

Lachlan Pou: So I think everyone felt a little locked up, a little bit isolated and everything sort of returning to normal. But I think everyone’s sort of ready to get back out there. And that’s definitely the case with us.

Kristy Sexton-McGrath: Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Aussies made 11 million overseas trips in the 12 months to June, a 32% jump on the previous year. We’ve been taking short overseas trips in record numbers, toppling pre-pandemic levels every month this year except May, with most of the trips being for holidays. Dean Long is the CEO of the Australian Travel Industry Association and says Australians are taking advantage of favourable exchange rates and affordable travel options.

Dean Long: Well, we have definitely hit a new high of Australians travelling overseas. There’s no doubt that we do have a two-speed economy in that space where it’s being strongly powered by those that are in the boomer demographic and also those that are in the younger demographic looking to have shorter single-hop holidays.

Kristy Sexton-McGrath: Indonesia was the number one destination for the 12 months to June, followed by New Zealand, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom. Dean Long has his own theory why Aussies are prioritising overseas jaunts during a cost of living crisis.

Dean Long: It’s one of the absolutely fascinating parts of Australian psyche. One of these elements that economists in Australia and around the world really struggle to understand is that travel is not a discretionary spending item. It’s critical to mental health. It’s critical to reconnecting with families. Even through tough times, we still maintain a very high share of wallet spent on international or domestic travel by Australians.

Kristy Sexton-McGrath: Lachlan Pou and his partner are already thinking about their next destination as they unpack their bags at home. Each week after covering their bills, they set aside a fixed amount for travel and add the rest to their savings.

Lachlan Pou: I’ve always got to have a holiday on the calendar, working towards. It just gives you a goal, gives you something to save towards and you’ve got to work to live, not live to work.

Sabra Lane: Traveller Lachlan Pou, ending that report by Kristy Sexton-McGrath.