There’s nothing like a good holiday. It’s not just the actual trip that brings us joy, but the time we spend planning it: the fun of picking out the perfect hotel, the lunch breaks looking up amazing restaurants to visit, and the soul-soothing feeling that comes from knowing you’ve got a vacay on the horizon.
So exactly what is going to be big in travel next year? Thanks to the annual Skyscanner Travel Trends report, which polls travellers on their holiday plans, we can already see where Aussies are headed next. And it looks like we’ll be doing things a little differently.
Japan is back, baby
No, you’re not imagining it. Everyone on your Instagram feed really is in Japan at the moment.
Osaka is the number one buzzing destination for Australian travellers right now, having experienced a 455% year-on-year increase in searches on Skyscanner. Sapporo (the gateway to Japan’s ski resorts) and the inimitable capital city of Tokyo are also among the top five buzziest spots.
There are good reasons for this. The Land of the Rising Sun only reopened its borders to travellers last year, so many of us are catching up on Covid-delayed plans, or just keen to get back to one of the most rewarding destinations on Earth. And it just might be the best foodie destination there is. There are a whopping 92 Michelin-starred restaurants in Osaka alone, including 80 one-star establishments, many of which make fine dining genuinely affordable. Arrive hungry.
We’re staying (kind of) close to home
Japan isn’t the only Asian destination popular with Australian travellers. Many of us are seeking the big city atmospheres of Chinese destinations such as Chengdu and Beijing, which round out the top five destinations that have had the biggest year-on-year increase in searches.
With the cost of living spurring many of us to try to holiday for less[link to article 1], the entire top 10 is made up of destinations in Asia and the Pacific. The beautiful beaches of Krabi in Thailand and Cebu in the Philippines are soaring in popularity, while the French island of New Caledonia – about a three-hour flight from Sydney, or just two hours from Brisbane – is also on the rise. Many of us are also choosing to jet to the affordable (and unforgettable) shores of Vietnam.
Bougie on a budget is in
While the cost of living may be inspiring us to seek better deals and destinations closer to home, we’re not scrimping on every portion of the trip.
More of us are seeking luxe for less by making small shifts such as upgrading a flight to business with a savvy use of points, or treating ourselves to airport lounge access; 29% of us even said we’d pay more for better quality food on flights. It’s the little things, right?
We’ll be travelling with mates
Bust out the shared Google spreadsheet – many of us are keen to jet off on a group trip in 2024.
Skyscanner found that 46% of Australian travellers have taken a group trip to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, with a further 28% saying it’s something they’d love to do. It’s all about marking milestones surrounded by the people you love.
Those of us who are gathering the troops for an overseas trip next year are most likely to head to New Zealand, Indonesia and Japan.
We’ll be vibe hunting
Skyscanner found the real trend of 2024 is going to be cultural exploration.
Many of us will jet abroad seeking incredible food: 56% of Aussies say eating the local cuisine and trying authentic food is their favourite activity when travelling, and 39% say they want to book a destination purely based on a specific restaurant they want to visit. Others will travel in search of a big gig, with 32% of Australian travellers willing to hop on a short haul flight to see their favourite artist live.
And many of us want to follow in the footsteps of characters from TV shows, with Emily in Paris top of the list. Almost 50% of travellers say they’d like to experience Paris like Emily, the survey found, and one week after the season three premiere in December 2022, Skyscanner saw a 65% increase in searches from Australia to the City of Love.
Then there’s that less tangible but oh-so-important “vibe” of a destination – something 29% of us rate as important when choosing where to travel. We want to get out there, soak it up and see what the world has to offer.
Top travel planning hacks
Bargain hunt: Use a savings generator tool to find bargains, based on the cheapest days and times to fly.
Sign up to price alerts: Be the first to know about price drops for your destination.
Be flexible: If your travel dates aren’t set, use the ‘Whole Month’ search on Skyscanner to find affordable dates to fly.
Find your next holiday destination with the help of Skyscanner.
