Australians on Holiday
International Leisure Travel Trends 2024
with touring sector analysis
DESTINATION | DURATION | SPEND | STYLE | TIMING
The Council of Australian Tour Operators' (CATO) Australians on Holiday report has been developed after extensive research using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), CATO Members and an extensive consumer survey of more than 3,000 international travellers. The report presents a comprehensive view of Australia's outbound leisure travel landscape.
Key insights of the 2024 report show;
- Travel Volumes: Total outbound travel grew significantly, with leisure travel alone increasing 21% year-on-year.
- Duration & Demographics: Shorter trips remain common, though travellers aged 50–69 dominate longer-duration travel. Youth travel has shown a strong resurgence.
- Planning & Booking: 62% of travellers plan within 6 months, while 32% book 6–12 months ahead—indicating flexibility and confidence in short- to mid-term planning cycles.
- Purpose of Travel: Holidays remain the primary motivator for outbound travel, followed by VFR and business.
- Touring Sector: Land-based multi-day touring experienced a 48% rise in passengers. Despite a 22% drop in average spend, overall sector value increased by 16%. Traditional coach touring remains on a positive trajectory.
- Future Intentions: 87% of Australians indicate plans for international travel, with growing interest in multi-country itineraries, particularly across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Click on the report cover to read more...
