A FEW years ago, most Aussie travellers would have been happy to flop and drop at a beach resort or head to one of the world’s most celebrated cities for their dream holidays.
These days, however, authentic and immersive experiences are now a huge priority for discerning globetrotters.
In the Goldman Group Australian Luxury Traveller 2019 Report, the travel advisors say Australian travellers are now bypassing tourist traps and traditional destinations in favour of unconventional, under-the-radar locations in remote parts of the globe.
The Caribbean has become a hot spot in the past few months which Anthony and David Goldman, joint managing directors of the Goldman Group, say is due, in part, to the new US stopover cities of Houston and Dallas.
Qantas now flies direct to Dallas and United Airlines flies direct to Houston from Sydney, both in under 16 hours, making Caribbean destinations much more accessible to Australian travellers.
With its pristine beaches, dense rainforests, hot springs and diverse wildlife, Costa Rica is also proving to be an attractive option for Australians, while Cuba is expected to welcome a record high of five million visitors alone, according to the report.
Indonesia’s Galapagos Islands, Iceland, and Antarctica are also trending, while the desire for cultural interactions is also driving Australian travellers to places such as Morocco for its off-the-beaten-path experiences.
Social media also plays a large role when it comes to Instagram-loving travellers choosing holiday destinations.
“More than one third of Aussie travellers enjoy posting about their holidays online, and get holiday inspiration from social media feeds,” said Anthony Goldman.
“Many of our clients message us directly on Instagram and ask to book hotels featured in our posts, or ask about the destinations visited by our travel advisors. In turn, we have witnessed hotels around the world strive to be the most photogenic and Instagrammable accommodation providers in 2019.”
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