Travel tops tax return wish list for Aussies

Almost half of Australians reckon they’d prefer to use their tax return to fund travel than pay off their credit cards and debts.

On top of that, three in five would choose travel over making investments, new research from G Adventures has shown.

The new research has identified that travel is the number one thing Aussies would like to spend their tax refund on.

The research found that Australians plan on spending 20 per cent of their tax refund on travel, and as the average tax payer expects, in 2017, to receive a tax refund of $1,536, this equates to approximately 3.8 billion dollars in spend across the country.

With more than three quarters of Aussies preferring to spend their money on experiences rather than things, and almost half (47 per cent) of those expecting a tax refund planning to use at least some to fund travel.

Yep, it looks like people are choosing to spend their money on memories over materials by investing in their next adventure.

Adrian Piotto, Managing Director of G Adventures Australia, said that they were pleased the findings confirmed what they had long suspected – that spending money on experiences and making memories was a high priority for Australians.

“In an age of consumerism, this research tells us that Australians want their hard-earned money to go to something more meaningful,” Piotto said.

“Being in the travel industry, we know the power that a life-changing travel experience can have. We want to continue helping Aussies realise their travel dreams, through adventures to some of the greatest places on earth.”

For those looking for some travel inspiration, cruising down the Amazon River or camping under the stars in Yosemite National Park have taken out the top desired travel experiences, according to the research.

Other key findings included:

Travel is the number one aspect Australians would like to spend their tax return on
Half (48 per cent) of Australians would prefer to spend their tax return on travel rather than pay off debts or credit cards
86 per cent of Australians would prefer to spend their tax refund on travel over partying and nights out
59 per cent of Australians would prefer to spend their tax return on travel over investing the money

The research was commissioned by G Adventures and conducted online in July, 2017 by Lonergan Research with a diverse pool of 1,037 Australians across the country. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

To accompany the research, G Adventures has identified the top adventures and destinations that travellers can ‘take off’ to this year with their tax return.

Take off with your tax return with a few of these bangers from G Adventures…

Trips under $1000

Beijing to Shanghai Adventure – China can be intimidating, what with its Great Wall, Forbidden City, and army of Terracotta Warriors. This eight-day trip will give travellers a mix of modern and historic with plenty of time to enjoy the nightlife. Priced from $899 (selet departures).

Trips under $1500

Morocco Kasbahs & Desert – Perfect for travellers looking for a fast-paced trip, this short but sweet adventure offers up a great combination of Morocco’s must-see highlights and a little free time to explore. Discover the history and rugged natural beauty of mysterious Morocco. Priced from $1099 (select departures).

Trips under $2000

Borneo – East Sabah Adventure – This eight-day adventure celebrates all that Borneo has to offer including its intriguing wildlife, skyscraper-height jungle canopies, and gorgeous coastlines teeming with tropical fish – this magical stretch is positively bursting with stuff to see and do. Priced from $1499 (select departures).

Advertise with us

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

g adventures tax return