A new survey by the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) reveals that Australians are eager to travel this summer, with many planning trips in December and January despite mounting cost-of-living pressures.

The survey, conducted by Pure Profile between November 20–25, 2024, sampled over 2,000 Australians aged 18–65+, shedding light on their travel habits and plans for the upcoming holiday season.

“We can see that Aussies are increasing the length of their journey from last year,’ TTF CEO Margy Osmond said.

“With travel restrictions a distant memory, Australians are eager to explore what travel offerings there are on offer, both domestically and internationally.”

“We can see that older generation Australians are looking to be more frugal with holiday spending than their younger counterparts. Almost half (47 per cent) of travellers over the age of 65 intend to spend less than $2,000 on their entire vacation.”

When are Australians travelling?

The most popular travel period is early January, with 19 per cent planning trips between January 1–15, 2025.  13 per cent will travel between 17-24 December, 14 per cent will travel between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve while 13 per cent will travel later in January. Interestingly, five per cent will travel on Christmas Day.

Trip duration and budgets

The majority of Australians (53 per cent) are opting for short getaways of 2–7 days, while 32 per cent plan holidays lasting 8–14 days. Only 13 per cent are preparing for extended breaks of more than two weeks.

Travel budgets are evenly split between those spending under $2,000 (39 per cent) and those allocating between $2,001–$5,000 (39 per cent). Higher spenders are less common, with 17 per cent budgeting $5,001–$10,000, and just 5 per cent planning to spend over $10,000.

Travel motivations and challenges

Nearly 40 per cent said work leave is their main motivation to travel while 12 per cent say they are capitalising on travel deals and 14 per cent say they are looking to enjoy optimal summer weather.

Cost-of-living pressures are a major influence when travellers are planning holidays, with 39 per cent of Australians reporting they’ve made adjustments to accommodate financial constraints.

More and more opt to leave their pet behind

Pet owners are largely leaving their furry companions behind, with 63 per cent entrusting them to loved ones or pet sitters and 14 per cent opting for pet accommodations. Only two per cent plan to travel with their pets.

Last minute bookings on the rise. 

The survey reveals a trend toward last-minute holiday planning, with 62 per cent of Australians booking less than a month before departure. Young adults (18–34) are the most spontaneous, with 15 per cent willing to book the day before or the day of their trip.