New data released this week from global travel app, Skyscanner, has revealed 43% of Aussies are planning to spend more on travel and holidaying in 2025 than they did this year.
Aussies are looking to maximise bang for buck with the top factors determining destination choices including weather (66%), attractions (65%), food (63%) and culture (59%), reinforcing their desire to seek out experiences that bring people together.
The data reveals 36% of travellers have budgeted to spend more on flights, 31% are going to spend more on accommodation and 14% are planning to spend more on car hire.
Skyscanner shares the latest trends shaping industry and traveller behaviour in its ‘Travel Trends: The Search for Community and Collective Experiences 2025’ report.
Blending proprietary flights and hotel data based on millions of searches with an annual consumer behaviour study and expert commentary, the annual Skyscanner report shows Australians are keen to get the most value for their money in 2025, continuing their search for budget-friendly destinations and affordable flights.
Thailand, Northern Ireland and Spain have emerged as the top choices for Aussies, offering the best ‘bang for the buck’.
Value for money isn’t the only thing Aussie travellers are looking for – Skyscanner mapped seven top cultural trends influencing how we travel:
Sports Mode - almost one third (28%) of all Aussie travellers plan to travel either domestically or internationally to see a sporting event in 2025.
Their top three reasons include the entertainment factor (59%), a sense of excitement (50%) as well as seeing their favourite sporting starts in action (41%).
Astro Adventurers – astronomy is something more Australian travellers are enjoying, especially younger Gen Z and Millennials, who are seeking a sense of connection with the cosmos. In fact, the top dark sky experiences for Aussies in 2025 include catching the Northern Lights (58%), going to an observatory (39%) and watching a solar/lunar eclipse (38%).
Reset Jetters – the emerging wellness trend extends beyond yoga and spa retreats, offering travellers the chance to not only recharge but also build resilience, find purpose and enhance longevity; 23% of 18-34-year-olds and 37% of 45-64-year-olds say they are likely to take a health-conscious approach to their holidays in 2025.
Art-venture – more than half (59%) of Australian travellers say culture is one of the most important reasons for choosing a holiday destination with 2 in 5 planning an immersive art experience on holiday next year.
Cowboy-core – the love of the Wild West and ranch life is manifesting itself in cowboy and cowgirl-adjacent trips and holidays themed around country music; 29% of Australian travellers are fans of ‘Cowboy Core’, rising to 44% among 18-24-year-olds.
Horti-culture – what was once a casual hobby, gardening and the growing desire to return to nature, are now a clear driving force behind travel plans, with a massive 72% of Aussies saying they enjoy visiting gardens during their holidays.
Gami-vacation – there has been a rise in flight searches to worldwide gaming conventions, with more than a third (31%) of Australian travellers being inspired to book a trip abroad based on locations from their favourite video game.
Skyscanner Travel Expert, Jarrod Kris, comments:
"Aussies have experienced different ways of enjoying travelling over time, but one thing that remains consistent is the desire to find new destinations and to land a good bargain.
"It is no surprise Krabi in Thailand ranks so high both as a trending and a best-value destination. Aussies were quick to jump on the opportunity to visit this trending piece of paradise, especially considering a significant price drop of 34% in airfares.”
Jarrod also reinforces that Australians are expanding their geographic limits and exploring new locations in South America and East Europe.
"We are certainly going beyond the obvious tourist destinations in search of a perfect spot to create memories! I’m pleased to see Aussies exploring the world and adding Labuan Bajo and Yogyakarta to their favourite Indonesian spots or adding Finland, Iceland and Norway to their bucket lists”.
