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Which nationality spends the most on travelling?
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The Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011 of 11,620 travellers has uncovered some interesting results.
B Posts: 5,620
To me this is no surprise, but Australian spend more on travelling then anyone else (US$3636 per trip), and they are clearly ahead (approximately 15%) of the next highest spender, the people of Saudi Arabia (US$3129 per trip). The global average is US$1481 per trip.
I'd reckon the reasons for this are several. Firstly, Australians love the outdoors and like to explore and thus are more likely to want to spend their money seeing new places and enjoying new experiences rather than spending extra monies on extra renovations for the house (for example).
Secondly, because Australia is so far away from everything else, once we leave these shores, it is more cost-effective to stay away for longer, and the longer you stay away, the more you spend. Australians don't fly to Europe for a weekend or even a week, it isn't worth the time and expense for such a long trip (20 hours of flying). So instead a journey to Europe is a minimum four week trip at the very least, and most likely longer. Same applies to any journey to Africa and the Americas. The only people I know who take less than three-four weeks of leave when travelling overseas are those either heading to New Zealand, Pacific Islands or Asia.
Third (and very importantly), Australians have generous leave entitlements - minimum four weeks leave per year, with longer for those who stay 10 years with one employer who then earn an extra 90 calendar days of leave, which increases by another 9 days every year. Employees can also avail themselves of leave at half pay or no pay in order to have a very extended break - with the security of knowing that their job is waiting for them upon their return.
Fourthly, Australia is a very multi-cultural country, so it is not uncommon for people to return to the country of their birth every few years for a reunion with family and friends.
The only caveat I'd put on this survey is the absence of the participants from Scandinavian countries, as they also can receive generous leave entitlements. However, I don't think they would alter the top two positions as most travel would be closer to home and thus spending less. New Zealanders are also absent, so not sure how they would fit the list, but would imagine they would be closer to the top.
More can be read here: The Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011
Would love to hear other people's opinions on this survey re its accuracy or its findings.
I'd reckon the reasons for this are several. Firstly, Australians love the outdoors and like to explore and thus are more likely to want to spend their money seeing new places and enjoying new experiences rather than spending extra monies on extra renovations for the house (for example).
Secondly, because Australia is so far away from everything else, once we leave these shores, it is more cost-effective to stay away for longer, and the longer you stay away, the more you spend. Australians don't fly to Europe for a weekend or even a week, it isn't worth the time and expense for such a long trip (20 hours of flying). So instead a journey to Europe is a minimum four week trip at the very least, and most likely longer. Same applies to any journey to Africa and the Americas. The only people I know who take less than three-four weeks of leave when travelling overseas are those either heading to New Zealand, Pacific Islands or Asia.
Third (and very importantly), Australians have generous leave entitlements - minimum four weeks leave per year, with longer for those who stay 10 years with one employer who then earn an extra 90 calendar days of leave, which increases by another 9 days every year. Employees can also avail themselves of leave at half pay or no pay in order to have a very extended break - with the security of knowing that their job is waiting for them upon their return.
Fourthly, Australia is a very multi-cultural country, so it is not uncommon for people to return to the country of their birth every few years for a reunion with family and friends.
The only caveat I'd put on this survey is the absence of the participants from Scandinavian countries, as they also can receive generous leave entitlements. However, I don't think they would alter the top two positions as most travel would be closer to home and thus spending less. New Zealanders are also absent, so not sure how they would fit the list, but would imagine they would be closer to the top.
More can be read here: The Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey 2011
Would love to hear other people's opinions on this survey re its accuracy or its findings.
[Edited: 2011 Oct 20 19:51 - The Travel Camel:11053 ]
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B Posts: 739
I think your observations are spot on Shane.
I would also add for me geographically it is far cheaper for me to leave Australia and head east to Asia as a jumping off point or destination than to fly to say Sydney return. I have picked up $99 fares to KL then $16 to Bangkok and $3 to HCMC where last time I flew to Sydney it cost me around $800 return.
I spent a week in Sydney with my boys and spent well over 5k. I can spend a month in asia for less than 4k including airfares for two people.
Plus our dollar WAS looking pretty good but its still not in bad shape compared to other countries. Reply to this
I would also add for me geographically it is far cheaper for me to leave Australia and head east to Asia as a jumping off point or destination than to fly to say Sydney return. I have picked up $99 fares to KL then $16 to Bangkok and $3 to HCMC where last time I flew to Sydney it cost me around $800 return.
I spent a week in Sydney with my boys and spent well over 5k. I can spend a month in asia for less than 4k including airfares for two people.
Plus our dollar WAS looking pretty good but its still not in bad shape compared to other countries. Reply to this
B Posts: 728
Shane,
You are right about Scandinavians receiving generous leave entitlements. While vacationing in Railey Beach in southern Thailand I met a Danish family with two small children, a month old and three years old. After each of their children they both received three months maternity/paternity leave, and each time they spent three months traveling to Asia...none of this hanging around the house and getting used to the new baby! Reply to this
You are right about Scandinavians receiving generous leave entitlements. While vacationing in Railey Beach in southern Thailand I met a Danish family with two small children, a month old and three years old. After each of their children they both received three months maternity/paternity leave, and each time they spent three months traveling to Asia...none of this hanging around the house and getting used to the new baby! Reply to this
B Posts: 5,620
In response to: Msg #145709
You reminded me of meeting a lady from Sweden in India a few years ago. She had either 3 or 6 months off work (cannot remember which) from her role as a librarian and was travelling throughout Asia due to an interesting work experience situation.
She informed me that if someone is termed as "long-term unemployed" in Sweden, then they can utilise a work placement program which allows them to take over an existing employee's job to gain experience. In return for stepping aside from her job for a period of time, the permanent employee is granted leave at half pay with a guarantee of returning to their original job when the placement is concluded. Reply to this
You reminded me of meeting a lady from Sweden in India a few years ago. She had either 3 or 6 months off work (cannot remember which) from her role as a librarian and was travelling throughout Asia due to an interesting work experience situation.
She informed me that if someone is termed as "long-term unemployed" in Sweden, then they can utilise a work placement program which allows them to take over an existing employee's job to gain experience. In return for stepping aside from her job for a period of time, the permanent employee is granted leave at half pay with a guarantee of returning to their original job when the placement is concluded. Reply to this
B Posts: 1,380
"Travel Style: Almost half of all those surveyed (47 percent) said they intend to arrange their trips themselves by booking directly with hotels and airlines. Flexible individual tours which allow travelers to choose their own activities are the next most preferred way to travel (28 percent), followed by packaged group tours (18 percent). Before leaving for their trip, global travelers are most likely to get their travel information from online sources (55 percent) rather than offline sources (43 percent)."
I wonder if Travelblog members have a similar spread for preferred travel styles. I have tried all three...prefer to arrange them myself but depends on the safety and accessibility issues in various locales. Reply to this
I wonder if Travelblog members have a similar spread for preferred travel styles. I have tried all three...prefer to arrange them myself but depends on the safety and accessibility issues in various locales. Reply to this
B Posts: 5,084
We have used all three styles and prefer to book and arrange ourselves. When we have used a travel agent we have always been satisfied and have used them when our time off is short and want to get the most out of our short time off.
We run from group tours and enjoy private tours.
Happy travels. Reply to this
We run from group tours and enjoy private tours.
Happy travels. Reply to this
B Posts: 24.6K
' This is a favourite 2011 TravelBlog discussion. If you have seen some good discussions in 2011, add them to the following thread. :)
Your 2011 TravelBlog favourites Reply to this
Your 2011 TravelBlog favourites Reply to this
C Posts: 10
In response to: Msg #149516
I also agree with you.Nice discussion is done on this thread. Reply to this
B Posts: 274
I am suprised New Zealanders arent on the list as whereever ive been in the world it seems to always be full of kiwis on holidays :)
It always surprises me as their population is about 5 million but i honestly think half of them are out in other countries in any given time!
ps. i think that is a wonderful thing! :) Reply to this
It always surprises me as their population is about 5 million but i honestly think half of them are out in other countries in any given time!
ps. i think that is a wonderful thing! :) Reply to this
D Posts: 50
This is really a amazing information.
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Please refrain from posting commercial links in the forums, thanks.
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Please refrain from posting commercial links in the forums, thanks.
[Edited: 2013 Apr 03 13:20 - D MJ Binkley:42569 - advertising]
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