83% Melbournians use travel agents

Vacation planning at home and Online ticket booking

Even though we’re based in Sydney, we still love a good shout out to our mates down in Victoria, and today we delve into their favourite holiday destinations.

In a new RACV survey, not only have we learned that a big chunk of Victorians use the services of travel agents, but also that their top three destinations feature the UK, NZ and, further afield, Italy.

The survey showed that most respondents used travel agents, but many also book their own overseas flights and accommodation.

Almost a quarter, 23.5 per cent, said they always use a travel agent to book overseas flights, 22.5 per cent said they mostly used a travel agent, and 37.3 per cent said they sometimes used a travel agent, which makes up 82.8 per cent of Victorians who use or have used a travel agent service.

Meanwhile, just 16.7 per cent said they had never used a travel agent to book their overseas travel.

The survey of more than 3000 RACV members found that, apart from relaxation and enjoyment, Victorians’ top reasons for travel included investigating their ancestry and taking children on a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Going for a holiday was the top reason for travelling overseas, nominated by just over 54 per cent.

Just over 14 per cent travelled to meet family and friends, about 12 per cent travelled for a new experience and 3.7 per cent travelled for business.

“These results reflect what we see through travel insurance sales, with members of all ages travelling to many different overseas destinations,” said Peter Stanley, RACV’s Manager for Travel Insurance.

“We have seen significant growth in travel insurance enquiries in part due to the growth in travel activity, but also the growing recognition of the importance of travelling with peace of mind, knowing that potential significant expenses such as medical and hospital costs are covered while travelling,” Stanley added.

Top 10 overseas destinations for Victorians

  1. United Kingdom
  2. New Zealand
  3. Italy
  4. United States
  5. France
  6. Canada
  7. Japan
  8. Thailand
  9. Fiji
  10. Indonesia

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