STUDY: Aussies bursting for Pacific ‘bubble’ and domestic nature escapes

STUDY: Aussies bursting for Pacific ‘bubble’ and domestic nature escapes

Aussies are itching for the Pacific travel ‘bubble’ to get going, if their search history is anything to go by.

New data from Vacaay has revealed a boom in online interest in French Polynesia, Fiji and the Cook Islands with a whopping 370 per cent increase in searches.

The platform, which launched at the start of this year, compared usage from 15 February to 15 March 2020 with the period 15 June to 15 July 2020 and found that before the impacts of COVID-19 were felt, Australians were looking at exotic summer holidays to warmer climates, with the Balearic Islands, Greek Islands and the French Riviera topping the list.

Searches for New Zealand have also seen a small increase, with a 30 per cent boost; however, the feeling is far more than mutual with a 212 per cent surge in Kiwis looking for a holiday in Australia.

The study also provided insights into the domestic market, showing a 298 per cent increase in Australians searching their own backyard, especially those seeking to escape the winter chill.

Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland are proving most popular with users across Australia, with interest down for urban escapes in line with preferences for social distancing.

Only five per cent of Aussies are considering staying in a city, compared with 25 per cent pre-pandemic.

Vacaay found that 96 per cent of Aussies are prioritising the great outdoors and road trips for their next vacation, with Injidup Natural Spa, Cape Le Grand National Park (WA) and Great Barrier Reef (QLD) taking out the three most popular domestic destinations.

Here are the top 10 spots Australians are choosing for domestic holidays, according to the research.

  1. Injidup Natural Spa, WA
  2. Cape Le Grand National Park, WA
  3. Great Barrier Reef, QLD
  4. East Arnhem Land, NT
  5. Uluru, NT
  6. Margaret River, WA
  7. Jervis Bay, NSW
  8. The Kangaroo Sanctuary, NT
  9. Corroboree Billabong, NT
  10. Clamshell Falls, QLD

Featured image source: Vacaay

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