Travellers venturing beyond Sydney

Travellers are becoming more curious and venturing outside of major cities like Sydney to different destinations in Australia, a TripAdvisor director says.

While Sydney remained Australia’s No.1 destination, the Gold Coast and Perth gave the harbour city a run for its money, according to the 2016 TripAdvisor’s travellers choice destinations awards.

TripAdvisor Director of Communications Asia Pacific Janice Lee Fang said the popularity of destinations are ultimately powered by reviews of hotels, restaurants and local attractions.

“It’s exciting to see the popularity of destinations shift from one year to the next,” she told AAP.

“Travellers are getting more curious about different travel spots within Australia and this is evident in the addition of new destinations – like Perth and Gold Coast – on the list.”

Queensland’s theme-park-packed Gold Coast trumped Melbourne for second place while the Sunshine State capital Brisbane came in fourth.

“Gold Coast’s offering as a destination for some of Australia’s beaches, surf spots, theme parks, seafood restaurants and vicinity to World Heritage-listed rainforests, all play into the destination’s growing popularity among travellers,” Ms Fang said.

“With interstate travel growing and more Australians choosing to holiday domestically, I’m sure there will be a number of new spots that make the list in the future.”

Ms Fang revealed accommodation prices play a huge role in deciding where visitors travel with 97 per cent of Aussies admitting price is important in their final booking decision.

“One in five travellers globally choose a destination because a hotel has a special offer or package available, so I would say accommodation prices definitely play a significant role in the travel planning process,” she said.

Sydney’s position on list of worldwide top destinations has shifted only slightly over the past few years, coming in at No.24 this year, a spot higher than last year.

TOP TEN DESTINATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

1. SYDNEY, NSW

2. GOLD COAST, QLD

3. MELBOURNE, VIC

4. BRISBANE, QLD

5. CAIRNS, QLD

6. PORT DOUGLAS, QLD

7. PERTH, WA

8. HOBART, TAS

9. ADELAIDE, SA

10. NOOSA, QLD

Source: TripAdvisor

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