Australians are more optimistic about travelling since the fuel crisis began in early March but they are still more hesitant to hit the road, a new survey by Reflections Holidays, the largest holiday park group in New South Wales, shows.
As the Anzac Day long weekend looms and Australians look to take a short break, a survey of 5,000 travellers by Reflections Holidays on April 17 found:
- Travel sentiment has improved by 4.2% but remains negative overall compared to before the fuel crisis
- Bookings have stabilised and holiday cancellations have reduced, although the small percentage of cancellations are strongly linked to fuel concerns
- Fuel price and availability is still influencing 85-90% of respondents' travel plans
Reflections Holiday CEO Nick Baker said that it was encouraging to see that those surveyed were feeling more optimistic about travelling as bowser prices dropped in recent weeks, however the impact of global affairs was still being felt by the travel industry, from accommodation providers to regional tourism operators.
"Reflections has 40 holiday parks across NSW and what we are seeing is that confidence is definitely returning to the market, however guests are making savings by reducing the distance they travel and staying closer to home, and they are also booking much more spontaneously – rather than booking three months ahead, they are jumping online and booking a few days ahead of arriving," Mr Baker said.
Mr Baker said camping remained the most affordable holiday for most Australians and caravan parks had camping sites that cost as little as $16 overnight, or $84 for a cabin.
"We know that the cost of living is an issue for many and the good news is that holiday parks have accommodation to suit every budget," he said.
In March, Reflections - a social enterprise which reinvests profit into its parks - offered a $25 fuel offset voucher for guests to access before April 30, and has also offered a fuel rebate to staff in its regional parks to help offset the cost of fuel.
About us:
The largest holiday park group in New South Wales, Reflections Holidays is a Category One Crown Land Manager which operates 40 holiday parks and cares for 47 community reserves. Reflections is singular in its industry because it reinvests profits back into its holiday parks and reserves, and it is the only holiday park group in Australia that is a certified social enterprise.
