Financial problems result in fewer Australian travelling overseas
Recently released data has shown that due to the financial crisis and lack of job security fewer Australians have been travelling overseas.
Over the years many people have become used to travelling abroad for their annual vacation, and for many this is a real treat that they look forward to all year. However, the ongoing financial crisis that has taken a hold in Australia has resulted in fewer Australians travelling overseas recently, according to recently released data.
The report and figures were released by the Tourism and Transport Forum, and officials stated that over the Christmas period there was a sharp drop in the number of Australians that were travelling to destinations overseas. January saw a fifteen percent fall in the number of Australians travelling to the United States, and a seven percent fall in the number of Australians travelling to the United Kingdom.
One official involved in the research said that there had been a rise in the number of Australians choosing to stay closer to home over the same period, with more people choosing to travel domestically. Olivia Worth, TTF’s executive director, stated: “People have definitely slammed on the brakes - they’re not travelling overseas.”
She added: “They’re concerned about the overall economy, they’re concerned about job security, and they’re concerned about paying off their mortgages. Holidays are simply not on the top of their shopping list.”
In the meantime campaigners are lobbying against an increase in Australia’s departure tax in the May budget, and Ms Worth added: “When you’re jumping on a plane going across the Tasman you might be paying $200, so when you tax on top of that $47, that is a proportionately bigger amount.”