After months of deprivation, readers of Explore - ACM's dedicated travel section - have overwhelmingly said they are ready to travel again.
A poll of Explore's online audience, conducted earlier this month, revealed 90 per cent were already planning their next holiday.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 73 per cent said their first break would be in Australia.
Explore editor Peter Lynch said the poll found hotels and resorts were firm favourites with families, with 47 per cent of the 400 respondents nominating them as preferred destinations.
Airbnb and similar country home rentals garnered 20 per cent of votes.
Even though they are banned at present, cruising was a popular choice at 31 per cent.
A quarter of the poll respondents said they were ready to dust off suitcases and fly to their next holiday - with Europe and the UK way out in front (65 per cent of votes) of other overseas spots.
Catching up with relatives after two years of separation during COVID lockdowns was the key driver in this result, Mr Lynch said.
Local holidays, though, remained the big drawcard for Explore readers - at least for now, he added.
Three-quarters of respondents said NSW, Victoria or Queensland were top of their wish lists.
The top five holiday types, nominated in the Explore online poll were:
- Hotels and resorts
- Cruises
- Holiday home rentals
- Drive holidays
- Camping and caravanning
Health and safety precautions were the strongest influence on holiday decisions, followed by affordability and destination, Mr Lynch said.
Half of the respondents said they were inspired to book holidays by travel supplements and websites like Explore and exploretravel.com.au.
The Explore travel supplement appears every Saturday in ACM's daily newspapers: Canberra Times, Newcastle Herald, Illawarra Mercury, Wagga Daily Advertiser, Border Mail, Bendigo Advertiser, Ballarat Courier, Warrnambool Standard, Northern Daily Leader, Dubbo Daily Liberal, Central Western Daily, Bathurst Western Advocate, Launceston Examiner and Burnie Advocate.
Explore stories can also be found online on every ACM website (like this one) and at exploretravel.com.au. Follow Explore on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for a free, weekly travel newsletter by visiting exploretravel.com.au.
Joanne Crawford
I love being able to connect with people right across the country. Creating strong, sustainable communities and maintaining an independent news voice for regional Australia are important to me. And family, and walking barefoot in the garden.
I love being able to connect with people right across the country. Creating strong, sustainable communities and maintaining an independent news voice for regional Australia are important to me. And family, and walking barefoot in the garden.
