How heavily does the Aussie dollar influence overseas travel?

Australian banknotes background of dollars of Australia, AUD currency. Financial colorful background.
By Alexandra Coulton


New research has shown the habits of Aussies choosing skiing or snowboarding holidays has been heavily influenced by the value of the Australian dollar.

Roy Morgan has found that between March 2001, when the Australian Dollar was valued at just 49 US cents, through to July 2011 when it reached a high of around $1.10 USD the soaring Australian Dollar predicted the increasing propensity of Australians to travel overseas for skiing and snowboarding holidays.

In March 2001 just 25 per cent of Australians who went snow skiing or snowboarding on their last holiday chose an overseas holiday destination while this hit 50 per cent in January 2012.

The stability of the Australian Dollar above parity persisted for approximately two years before dipping below parity in May 2013 and falling to a recent low of 70 US cents in September 2015.

The loss of a third of the value of the Australian Dollar soon had an impact on the likelihood Australians would travel overseas for skiing or snowboarding holidays which dipped substantially in 2014-15 to a low of just 33 per cent in early 2015.

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source April 2000 – March 2018, n= 2,300. Reserve Bank of Australia Exchange Rate AUD monthly exchange rate history (April 2000 – March 2018).

Source: Roy Morgan Single Source April 2000 – March 2018, n= 2,300. Reserve Bank of Australia Exchange Rate AUD monthly exchange rate history (April 2000 – March 2018).

However, the relative stability of the Australian Dollar in the last three years hasn’t stopped substantial changes in the habits of Australians going on skiing or snowboarding holidays.

Since bottoming at 30 per cent in late 2016 there has been a steady increase in Australians heading overseas for skiing and snowboarding holidays which is now at 46 per cent – approaching the highs reached between 2011-14.

Overall, only 1 per cent of Australians went snow skiing or snowboarding on their last holiday. The most popular overseas destinations for skiers and snowboarders are New Zealand, Japan, United States, Canada and European countries such as Germany, France and the Scandinavian countries.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments

    1. many U.S. ski resorts base their pricing to Australians on the exchange rate. Prices aren’t set in AUD$ but when the AUD$ drops, the USD$ price drops. U.S. resorts love Australians cos we stay 14 nights on average, cf. yanks who stay 4 nights on average (they only get 2 weeks annual leave if they are lucky)

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