Despite 81% of Australians feeling the impact of inflation, Aussie travellers say they plan to travel in 2023 ‘no matter what’

Today, Expedia released its 23^rd-annual Vacation Deprivation Report, finding that global vacation deprivation levels have reached a 10-year high as working adults navigate inflation, workplace labour shortages and busy schedules. Despite these obstacles, a whopping 81% of travellers worldwide plan to take as many—if not more—trips in 2023, pledging to travel ‘no matter what’.

The 2023 report polled more than 14,500 people across 16 countries. Key findings on Australian vacation deprivation include:

• 65% of Australian working adults report that they are vacation deprived, up from last year (63%).
• More than half of Australians (55%) and global (56%) respondents say their workplace or industry is battling labour shortages, making it challenging to take time off.

• Despite 81% feeling impacted by inflation, Australians continue to prioritise travel. On average, they are twice as likely to cut back on their grocery bills and dining out than to consider postponing a holiday.
• Expedia flight data shows that searches for winter getaways are up 250% year over year—indicating that Australians are on a path to reduce vacation deprivation in 2023.
• New Expedia tools—including Price Tracking available to members on the app— can help vacation-deprived Australians reclaim their time off as 64% of Aussies say they find booking travel stressful when searching to find the best deal.

Daniel Finch, Expedia Brands Managing Director said: “With so much to consider today before booking a trip, it’s little surprise to see how vacation deprived Australians really are. While macro considerations will be around for some time, there are actions Australians can take to ensure they don’t miss out on their well-deserved time off. That’s what this year’s Vacation Deprivation Report is all about – a reminder that carving out time for yourself is worth it.”

About the research: Expedia first commissioned the Vacation Deprivation Study in 2000 to examine the work-life balance of people worldwide. The annual study is currently in its 23^rd year and was conducted online among 14,527 respondents across North and South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Commissioned from 9 February to 3 March 2023 on behalf of Expedia by Northstar Research Partners, a global strategic research firm, responses were gathered using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. Looking at the margin of error for the global average, a 1% to 4% difference is statistically significant at 90% confidence.