Although it’s still roughly three months away, 2023 is shaping up as a year for Australian seniors to get back out there and travel. Preparing for that next trip can be beneficial if planned beforehand with a cash infusion for your Travel and Holidays.
Foresight
Some clues to justify a possible trip in 2023 may lie in the 2022 Intrepid Travel Index, by global tour operator Intrepid. Based on a survey of 1,000 Australians, the Index gathered information on Aussies’ preferences on post-pandemic trips and possible destinations to go to. It is also an update of a similar Index report from 2019.
The data revealed that 79 per cent of respondents would prefer planning a trip somewhere within Australia for 2023. Fifty-eight per cent of respondents revealed that they also went on a domestic trip this year.
When broken down by per state/territory preference to visit, Australia’s east coast occupied the podium, with Queensland at No. 1, followed by NSW and Victoria. WA, SA, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the ACT rounded out the list. Interest in First Nations communities gathered steam, with 32 per cent wanting to visit a First Nations region and 14 per cent were already engaged in researching a First Nations destination as part of planning the trip. QLD attracted interest, with 20 per cent of respondents wanting a sunny getaway.
How about to travel outside Australia?
The Index’s Top 20 countries to visit already tagged Australia at No. 1, but Morocco, which was No. 4 in 2019, went to second place. Vietnam, which was No. 1 in 2019 slid to third. Egypt and Peru complete the top five. New Zealand, meanwhile, was at No. 20. A check of Aussies’ prospective destinations saw Italy at top perch, followed by the USA, Antarctica, Egypt, and Vietnam.
Breaking the pandemic shackles
The events of the past three years also influenced responses in the Intrepid Travel Index. Approximately 73 per cent of respondents said they still want to proceed despite the danger of the virus and 58 per cent are wary of testing positive during the trip. While 35 per cent seek to go to less-populated destinations, 32 per cent want to go to countries with strong vaccination drives.
When it came to finances, the Index noted 55 per cent of respondents saying the cost of living hasn’t deterred their plans to go on holiday. Thirteen per cent of respondents over 55 years old, meanwhile, were up for spending at least $15,000.
Wellness travel is also a hot item among would-be Aussie travellers. Seventy-four per cent stated that going outdoors was a better idea compared to before the pandemic, and 89 per cent plan for sustainable travel options. Fifty-five per cent stressed that travelling was a way to keep their mental health in check. When it comes to activities, 82 per cent want to walk or hike, and 42 will go swimming.
The drive to travel in 2023 may even be buoyed by intense travel activity and returns from Australians this year. News Corp Australia travel portal Escape cited data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics stating that as of July 2022, there were 968,490 international departures recorded this year. Data for destinations by returning Australians for that period found New Zealand at No. 1 with 96,180 arrivals, with Indonesia (86,160) and the UK (66,460) completing the top three.
Passport, please
The gradual rebuilding of the travel market and the lifting of Australia’s travel bubble signals another question: Is your passport still valid after all these years?
A news.com.au report noted warnings from the DFAT suggesting that any plans to travel in the next six months should include passport renewals. The Australian Passport Office, in particular, stated that 1.8m passports were not renewed during the two years of lockdown and have processed 570,000 passports so far for FY23.
Prepare your travel with the ASAG Reverse Mortgage
ASAG can aid in your trip preparations by offering you a chance to use your property’s equity as collateral for the ASAG Reverse Mortgage, only to be paid in full at the end of the term or when you intend to sell your property. The intent is for you to access important funding and supplant any existing travel kitties, to concentrate on your leisure time without the stress of regular payments.
You have worked so hard for a secure position in life as you retire. As a way out of the world’s current woes gets closer, take advantage of that with a meaningful trip for you and your loved ones. Call ASAG at 1300 002 724 or email at info@asagfirstcom.au.
You may also get started with your own equity assessment by using our tool below.