Hot tickets for the year ahead

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

This was published 13 years ago

Hot tickets for the year ahead

Distant shores continue to beckon, but they may cost more in 2011.

Exodus ... Australians are expected to continue heading overseas in record numbers this year.

Exodus ... Australians are expected to continue heading overseas in record numbers this year.Credit: Reuters

SPARE a thought for Australian tourism operators as you jump on a plane for that overseas holiday this year. The exodus is almost certain to continue as the Aussie dollar remains high and airfares remain low, leaving domestic travel the poor cousin for another year.

A resurgence in business travel is expected to put paid to some of the bargain-basement pricing we saw in 2010 but the balance of power remains with travellers for the foreseeable future.

A survey conducted by the World Travel Market (WTM) late last year found the economic downturn will continue to have an impact on the global travel industry for at least five years.

Loading

A separate survey by the Tourism and Transport Forum and MasterCard pointed to a bleak outlook for domestic tourism, with 71 per cent of Australian operators saying the strong Aussie dollar was affecting their business.

Currency specialist HiFX says the dollar appreciated 20 per cent in the second half of 2010, peaking above parity with the US dollar. HiFX spokesman Brian Clarke says it is possible our dollar has already peaked, having fallen back from its early-November high.

The executive general manager of Flight Centre, Colin Bowman expects continued demand for overseas travel, after strong bookings in 2010. When favourable exchange rates combine with cheap airfares, travellers can stretch their budgets to new destinations, Bowman says.

Pat-downs and 'naked' body scanners are likely to to cause further controversy in 2011.

Pat-downs and 'naked' body scanners are likely to to cause further controversy in 2011.Credit: Reuters

Give us adventure

Adventurous destinations feature strongly in predictions for 2011 hot spots. Flight Centre includes Reunion, Africa, in its top 10 destinations this year, saying it is an underrated stopover option for travellers to France. Active volcanoes and mountainous landscapes make it ideal for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, while luxury resorts provide for indulgence.

Zambia also makes the list, with Flight Centre saying it is a good option for those interested in luxury tented camping, or a new option of tracking animals by micro-flight.

Lonely Planet puts Brazil in its top 10, saying its winning bids for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games have led to a flurry of spending on tourism infrastructure, while low-cost carriers have made travel across the vast continent more affordable.

Tanzania also makes Lonely Planet's top 10, thanks to its range of wildlife experiences, from tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara to chimpanzee sanctuaries in Gombe and Mahale. Also on the list is Cape Verde, off the coast of Western Africa, where travellers can find everything from mountain adventures to beaches and water sports.

Other destinations in Lonely Planet's top 10 include Albania (beaches, cuisine, heritage sites and affordable adventure), Panama (festivals, jungle treks and untouched landscapes) and Bulgaria (affordable ski fields, Black Sea beaches and wine).

STA Travel director of marketing Natalie Placko says recent focus groups pointed to one common finding: "the overwhelming appeal of 'bragging rights' – going somewhere off the beaten track, where their mates haven't been yet".

"There was a real interest in places . . . like Nepal, Peru, Morocco and Egypt," Placko says.

Give us pain

A global trends report released at the WTM late last year identifies "deprivation holidays" as a booming business, particularly in North America.

The report, prepared by respected market research firm Euromonitor International, says it is a case of "luxury out, austerity in".

"Destination spas with tough fitness programs will flourish as travellers seek physically and mentally transformative experiences," the report says. "Deprivation holidays are likely to become a strong niche globally, aimed at stressed-out travellers.

"Future developments are likely to see families going to spas or young singles signing up for boot camps."

Inspired Adventures, which runs "charity challenge" trips including trekking, cycling and marathons, says it has seen a 50 per cent increase in bookings in the past year. World Expeditions says there has been a 38 per cent increase in its charity challenges, along with a 14 per cent increase in demand for trekking holidays.

Give us romance

Britain is expecting a surge of visitors as a result of Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton (pictured) in April. The hype surrounding the wedding – which is expected to attract the biggest television audience in history – should place Britain high on travellers' minds.

A survey by VisitBritain found 63 per cent of Australians making a trip to Britain would be likely to visit places associated with the royal family. This was a lower percentage than many other source markets but could be accounted for by the fact that many Australian travellers are repeat visitors to Britain and have already "done" the royal sights.

Give us technology

The Euromonitor report points to mobile phone applications as being one of the hottest trends in travel, saying smartphones are "revolutionising" the travel industry.

This is thanks to global positioning system (GPS) technology, which allows for geo-localisation, or services based on a traveller's actual position.

Euromonitor says an important development is the rise of travel reservations through social-network applications such as Facebook for the iPhone.

"The growing importance of mobile is leading to a shift in power from technology players such as search engines like Google to smartphone manufacturers and developers," it says.

Aviation technology provider SITA says travellers are also rapidly embracing self-service technology. A survey found 70 per cent of airline passengers want more self-service options through internet, kiosk and mobile phone applications.

"While online booking and check-in are nearing their full potential, there is now clear demand from the travelling public for self-service on other steps of the passenger journey, including automated security checks," SITA says.

The SITA survey found that 74 per cent of people now book their flights online, while 38 per cent use the internet to book hotels (up from 21 per cent the previous year) and 35 per cent book car rental online (up from 19 per cent the previous year).

Give us a break

Airport security – and where to draw the line – is likely to be one of the hottest topics of debate in travel this year. The last few months of 2010 saw a flurry of complaints, accusations of assault and cringeworthy accounts of travellers' experiences with security procedures, related to "naked" body scanners and the alternative detailed pat-downs by security officers.

The outrage will only escalate as more "naked" body scanners are introduced around the world.

Dubai announced last year it would not introduce full-body scanners, saying they were not consistent with local customs and ethics and were an invasion of travellers' privacy.

This came as debate raged over two Muslim women who refused to pass through full-body scanners in Britain and airline executives publicly questioned the logic and cost-effectiveness of subjecting passengers to the scans.

Full-body scanners are due to be introduced in Australia early this year, although the government has indicated it will opt for technology that produces "stick figure" images rather than the very realistic "naked" images produced by some scanners.

Give us scent

"Fragrance tourism" has emerged as one of the fastest growing trends in hotels, with properties scrambling for signature scents.

"Smell is a strong human sense, with close links to memory and emotion," Euromonitor says in the WTM report. "Customisation is key, with different scents for different hotel locations – beach, resort or city – by time of day and even by purpose."

Euromonitor says the latest scent-delivery systems can provide up to five fragrance options a room, set to operate at different times. Hotel guests might wake up to the smell of citrus or peppermint and drift off to sleep with the aid of jasmine or vanilla.

The Marriott hotel group uses different scents for its airport, city and beach hotels, while Westin has a signature scent of white tea and Langham Hotels scents its rooms and hallways with ginger flower .

At the same time, many hotels are introducing scent-free, hypo-allergenic rooms for allergy sufferers. "Pure Rooms" are now available at four Rydges hotels in Australia and are being rapidly rolled out around the world.

Give us our neighbours

It seems we are finally appreciating our neighbour across the ditch. Travel.com.au says there has been a 50 per cent increase in flight bookings to New Zealand in the past year, helped along by a favourable exchange rate and cheap airfares.

Spokeswoman Lisa Ferrari says the country is becoming popular with travellers of all ages and interests, thanks to its huge range of activities and pricing.

The country will also be in the spotlight this year thanks to the Rugby World Cup, to be held in September and October. Rugby New Zealand says it has so far sold about 29,000 tickets in Australia, through a combination of public sales and packages offered by official travel agents.

Cruiseco, an official agent for the event, says it expects a further influx of bookings once all public ticket ballots are complete.

Flight Centre puts the Kiwi city of Christchurch in its top 10 destinations for 2011, saying it is one of the most affordable destinations to get to from Australia and has plenty to offer all year round.

"Think food and wine trails for baby boomers, heli-skiing for thrill seekers and self-drive holidays for families," it says.

Give us danger

Euromonitor is predicting a "race for Iraq" as peace returns to the country.

"Endless wars and political conflicts have overshadowed Iraq's position as the cradle of civilisation but postwar Iraq is experiencing a tourism revival," says the WTM Global Trends Report.

Euromonitor says there are now direct flights to Iraq from many countries and the country is investing heavily in hotels and other infrastructure.

There is very little in the way of organised tourism to Iraq from Australia and it should be noted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade applies the highest level of travel warning – "do not travel" – to the country.

For those who want a little less danger, the neighbouring Middle Eastern nation of Syria makes Lonely Planet's top 10 in 2011. Lonely Planet says the country is off the diplomatic "naughty step" and no longer has the "axis of evil" tag hanging around its neck. It offers everything from restored Ottoman palaces to a countryside strewn with the remains of fallen empires.

Sign up for the Traveller newsletter

The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading