Are Aussies over Australia?

Exploring Australia is not a top priority for Aussie holidaymakers according to a recent survey conducted by online travel portal ZUJI.com, with 69%* of respondents preferring to fly away for an international holiday than stay in Australia for a domestic holiday.

The survey findings are supported by booking trends as outlined by ZUJI's quarterly Online Travel Report (Q4 2006), which also sheds light on the new Aussie preference for high-rise rather than high tide escapes.

Perhaps because we enjoy beautiful beaches on our doorstep everyday, Australian holidaymakers are increasingly choosing the bustle and excitement of overseas holidays.

Major cities such as Los Angeles, Singapore, London and Hong Kong are some of the most popular destinations, with only two beachside destinations appearing in the top ten; Phuket and Bali.

Peter Smith, General Manager of ZUJI Australia says, "Australia has some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world, so the trend towards metropolitan experiences isn't altogether surprising. Apart from Sydney, Australian travellers are definitely looking to discover the exhilaration of an overseas city escape, and they are booking their flights and hotels online with ZUJI."

"Asian destinations, including Malaysian, Indian and Chinese cities, are popular choices on ZUJI.com, driven by increased focus on the region from the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China."

For Australians flying overseas, the top 10 international destinations booked on ZUJI.com.au during Q4 2006 were:

1. Auckland, New Zealand
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. Singapore
4. London, UK
5. Hong Kong
6. Los Angeles, USA
7. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
8. Phuket, Thailand
9. Seoul, Korea
10. Bali, Indonesia

The top five destinations for 2007 are:
1. London
2. Auckland
3. Sydney
4. Bangkok
5. Hong Kong

The ZUJI Online Travel Report tracks online travel booking trends for flight, hotel and other travel bookings in Asia Pacific. Trends are drawn from actual search and booking data on ZUJI online travel sites across Asia Pacific.