New data released from global travel marketplace, Skyscanner reveals Gen Z Aussies are travelling more than ever, with the launch of its First Trip with Skyscanner Report highlighting more than half (53%) of young Aussies are prioritising travel over other commitments.
The report, which surveyed 1000 young Australians aged 18-25 years old, sheds light on the travel behaviours and factors considered by young adults who have or are planning to embark on their first independent trip without their parents or guardians.
The findings revealed a strong inclination among this age group that their first trip is an exciting key coming-of-age milestone, with more than half having already done so before the age of 21 and at least 1 in 3 planning to do so in the future.
Skyscanner Travel Expert Jarrod Kris says the first trip overseas represents a significant milestone for numerous young adults worldwide.
"For many young people, embarking on their first trip overseas may occur after receiving their first paycheck, while for others, it could be a celebratory excursion following graduation,” he says.
"In launching this report, we aim to better understand the tools needed and available to support their travel preferences, while also providing them with valuable resources to plan effectively ahead of their trips and capitalise on great travel deals.”
Planning can sometimes be overwhelming for a traveller taking charge for the first time, which is why Skyscanner aims to assist through its First Trip resource hub, directing them towards a full suite of tools and guides to make the experience seamless.
"Search features on Skyscanner like setting up ‘Price Alerts’ or using the ‘Cheapest Month’ tool, can help save an average of 31% on flights for Aussies,” Jarrod says.
Key highlights from ‘First Trip with Skyscanner’s Report:
• Young women lead the pack: 62% of young Aussie females have travelled or are planning to travel overseas (compared to 56% of males) and of this cohort, 35% did so before the age of 18! Only 27% of males surveyed, 18 and under have travelled without a parent or guardian.
• Parents know best: during a time when social media often influences the decisions of many Gen Z Aussies, Skyscanner found that only 20% would be swayed by social media, movies and influencers. So where are they getting their advice? From parents and guardians – with almost 60% of these Gen Z Aussies going to their caregivers when it comes to travel.
• Scoping it out: when thinking about their future, 58% of Gen Z Aussies are likely to use their travel to work interstate or overseas for a period. In fact, almost 40% of young Aussies are using their first trip abroad to discover the places they’d like to live or work in the future.
• Budget-conscious bunch: Gen Z Aussies are a budget-conscious bunch, with almost 70% of young Aussies funding their first trip overseas using their personal savings! Only 26% of young Aussies are travelling using money from parents/guardians.
With more than 18 million unique flight routes worldwide and three million hotels from hundreds of hotel sites, Skyscanner allows travellers to see all their travel options in one easy-to-use app.
What’s more, the Skyscanner app’s newest ‘Saved’ feature makes the complexity of comparing all those flight and hotel options easy. With the click of a (heart) button, travellers can save their flight and accommodation choices, ready to come back and review the shortlist later.
In addition, when travellers add a flight to their ‘Saved’ list, Skyscanner will automatically send them a ‘Price Alert’ when the price changes.
For more information, access the ‘First Trip’ content resource hub created for travellers here.
