Uncertainty around fuel supply is driving Australians to rethink their holidays, with determined travellers keeping their holiday plans on track by choosing destinations closer to their doorstep, data from the largest holiday park group in New South Wales shows.
The survey by Reflections Holidays, which manages 40 holiday parks in coastal and inland NSW, on the Easter long weekend showed that while fuel prices and availability is weighing on travellers' minds, they are choosing to holiday closer to home in order to maintain their holiday traditions.
The Reflections survey found 23% of travellers with bookings in the next three months had changed their plans to holiday closer to home, and in this cohort, 36.2% had reduced their travel distance by at least 300 kilometres.
Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the shift in sentiment from its guests between the first survey in mid-March (11,000 responses) and then in early April (8,000 responses showed that travellers were now more cautious but still determined to go on holidays.
"What our guests are telling us is that they still want to holiday, they are weighing up cost and availability of fuel, and around one quarter of them are shifting their trip to a destination that is closer to home," Mr Baker said.
"The survey reinforces that people still want to holiday, arguably because now more than ever it's important to connect with each other and with nature, and they are prioritising travelling shorter distances to have a getaway with loved ones.
To assist travellers keen to continue travelling despite the fuel cost, Reflections has introduced discounts in coming months which encourage local travel, and until April 30 is offering a $25 fuel offset voucher.
Among the key Reflections Holidays Fuel Survey findings:
Respondents are still more likely to adapt than abandon travel, with 23.3% of those with a travel booking in the next three months changing it to make it closer to home
Of the above cohort, 36.2% had changed destinations and reduced their travel distance by at least 300kms.
Almost half (48.2%) of respondents said fuel price was partially influencing their current holiday and travel decisions, with 41.4% saying fuel price was heavily influencing them and 10.4% "not at all" influenced by it
47.1% of respondents said that fuel availability was heavily influencing them, with 41.3 per cent saying they were partially influenced by fuel availability and another 11.6% saying it was not a factor
Mr Baker said that Reflections had offered the fuel offset for its guests and "local stay deals" to encourage travellers to continue their holiday plans, which supported local tourism.
"We know that the fuel prices have impacted our customers and, more broadly, every Australian, and we have taken the unique approach of offering fuel offset vouchers because this really is a unique time in our industry," Mr Baker said.
"Camping remains the most affordable way to holiday and our message to our guests and the public right now is, we know that you're worried about fuel prices and availability but there are incredible destinations to be explored not too far from your doorstep."
Reflections, a Category One Crown Land manager and certified social enterprise, has also launched a fuel allowance for staff in its regional parks to assist them with the cost of commuting to work.
