So, is anyone going to holiday in Australia 2011?

[albatross710]

During the last week I have been unusually social. The topic of conversation has turned to plans for 2011. The people I've been talking to are planning overseas holidays as it is so attractively priced factoring in the exchange rate.

I know that I as a humble SME can fit in trips to Germany (booked and paid), USA (75% committed), China (50% committed). Others I spoke to are thinking sabatical, skiing and taking the kids to see the world.

Consider the local tourism industry. They are going to have to take a haircut to be competitive. As a flow through of price reductions on imported goods, my competitive assessment suggests that local operators are going to have to reduce prices so that overseas looks less attractive. Why stay on the Gold Coast for $200 a night when Singapore is so close.

One person I spoke to said it costs him >$1,000 to fly BNE-ISA but Jetsar have $500 flights return Japan. Over the year these sort of comparisons start to flow through to our holiday and leisure plans. Why fly to Melbourne to drive the great ocean road when we can fly to USA, for more $$$ but believe we can justify the extra $$ with the experience.

So, is anyone going to holiday in Australia 2011?

Alby

 

[Mal]

There will be some (limited) domestic tourism for me, but the big drawcard has always been overseas.

It's interesting that the rest of Australia is finally waking up to what many people already knew - The Australian tourism industry is totally stuffed, is overpriced, underserviced, dated, non-competitive and trying to survive off a dream built many years ago.

But hey, we can just turn on Oprah, "throw another shrimp on the barbie", and mutter "Where the B H are they?" while we wait for tourists to return.

 

[fjc]

A young Canadian couple (25ish) have just had their honeymoon in Australia. Toronto- Brisbane, had a couple of days R & R, then Hamilton Island, Port Douglas, Uluru (1 night), Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne, Sydney and home. They were here for a month, and stayed in at least 3 star and Sydney it was 5 star pubs.

Highlights were:
. Snorkelling on the reef
. Quad bike riding on Kangaroo Island
. The Great Ocean Road
. Koalas.

Only had 1 night at Uluru because "it was too expensive". Arguments from me about "a long way from no where" etc didn't make them change their mind.

They are absolutely hooked on Croc Dundee (as is her mother). Can't get enough of him. Wanted to go to the Walkabout Pub, but when I told them how far it was etc, decided against it. He is still a draw card to the overseas visitors even though he makes us cringe (like that FIFA presenation).

They are East Coast Canadians, university educated, and following in the footsteps of others who had been out here. Definitely not part of the mass tourist market which is where I suspect the money is.

 

[JetLagged]

Does a week in Melbourne during January (to attend a conference) make the grade?

Might/probably make another week free to go back to the Barossa, Clare etc to stock up on some wines.

But apart from that - overseas plans are for a UK trip in May and an RTW to visit Minnessota, UK, France and Asia (with some other desitinations along the way) in July.

 

[AdMEL]

I'm flying to Adelaide next Monday (Dec 27) for a week with a mate - we're going to hire a 4WD and drive up to Lake Eyre, while it hopefully still has some water in it. We'll be spending two nights in the Clare valley on the way up and two nights in the Flinders Ranges on the way back. It's low season in most of the areas we'll be visiting, so lower prices, due to the heat (which I actually like). Flights were reasonably priced but not cheap. Car hire is expensive!

I took advantage of the favourable exchange rate and spent 5 weeks in the US in July/August this year.

Whilst there are many more places I would like to visit overseas, there are also many places I would like to visit in Australia - Lake Eyre being just one.

The mate I'm going with doesn't have a passport, has joint custody of a young child and runs his own business, all of which make holidays difficult.

 

[UP4014]

The Australian tourism industry is totally stuffed, is overpriced, underserviced, dated, non-competitive and trying to survive off a dream built many years ago.

Have to agree, now the dollar has moved it's become more obvious to Australians.

 

[kpc]

There will be some (limited) domestic tourism for me, but the big drawcard has always been overseas.

It's interesting that the rest of Australia is finally waking up to what many people already knew - The Australian tourism industry is totally stuffed, is overpriced, underserviced, dated, non-competitive and trying to survive off a dream built many years ago.

But hey, we can just turn on Oprah, "throw another shrimp on the barbie", and mutter "Where the B H are they?" while we wait for tourists to return.

I agree 100%. I'm off to NW Tasmania in a couple of weeks (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ssion/suggestions-things-see-do-nw-26854.html), and am finding accommodation, activities etc expensive. Decent accommodation, even allowing for holiday season, is well north of $200 / night:evil: ....I think I would get alot better value for my buck going to SE Asia:shock:

 

[Deleted member 9370]

Mrs subharpoon & me: Gold Coast for a week in February (DJ Courtesy of Status match), Port Douglas for a week in May (QF FF points) and then to help American tourism, Hawaii for a week in July (*Class). Hope the Pacific Peso ($AUD) stands firm!

 

[wingspan]

Such an interesting thread. With the world so accessible these days it came as a surprise to me to think about holidaying in Australia.

Next year, my housemate and I have discussed walking from Adelaide to Melbourne and it is something we both want to do badly. However, it comes with a large commitment of time and energy. Energy I may have a lot of, but next year will be very busy for me time-wise.

I also want to head to the Willandra Lakes region at some point. Possibly next year if I can work it around a large research project and a lengthy stay with old school and uni friends in Japan.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I do most of my holidaying domestically, a majority of it in Melbourne. Love the city. Of course it depends where the Glory/West Coast are playing too. So, my answer is yes.

SE Asia is very competitive, I agree, but my preferred destinations would be Europe or the USA, both of which are pretty good $-wise also, but more expensive to get to, and further away from home.

 

[Bundy Bear]

I think a few of us are planning a trip to Darwin at the end of May, I think that is part of Australia.

I am considering a trip to Europe in June, but only at the planning stage at the moment.

 

[JohnK]

I have not doubt about it but Australia is overpriced. I like staying in motels but when they charge $110-$140 a night for the privilege it starts to get ridiculous. I have to research accommodation options and sometimes find these rooms $80-$90 a night from Wotif, HotelClub etc. I can get the same type of room in Asia for ~$30-$70 a night without trying hard at all. :shock:

Most of my travel budget is going to go on 3-4 trips a year to Thailand. I prefer to keep the trips ~10-14 days which means a pay a little more on airfares but don't have long to wait between trips.

Not sure if these counts as a holidays but I will be doing some weekend travel locally.

- Townsville
- Mackay
- Ozfest Darwin (not confirmed)
- AFF Do Canberra (if dates suit)

 

[trooper]

Sort of....

I use my leave for competitions in my sport(s)... Next year I have Easter down at Little River (near Geelong) for one National comp, and the first week of October in QLD for the Nationals of another sport. Had two US trips planned.. then got a sponsorship offer for the World Champs.. so now doing three!! :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Having been going to these comps since 1997 (remember the USD$ exchange rates in 2000/2001...:shock I am REALLY enjoying the current AUD value, and plan to make the most of it......

 

[blueflamenco]

This thread is very relevant to what I have been thinking about lately. I hardly ever holiday within Australia. In the past it has been off the cards because I was living overseas. Now that Australia is more accessible I discover just how expensive it is. The main thing that irks me about it isn't just the cost but the value. I know a couple of families who certainly have the money to holiday within Australia but choose to go elsewhere. It's a shame because Australia has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty.

 

[anat0l]

The Australian tourism industry is totally stuffed, is overpriced, underserviced, dated, non-competitive and trying to survive off a dream built many years ago.

The problems related to why it's overpriced is because it is underserviced and dated. People will pay a decent price for quality, but the quality just isn't here.


I don't plan to do a lot of domestic travel next year, save for connecting flights and a couple of joy rides, with some domestic Dos possibly tossed into the mix.

 

[11sjw]

The only planned holiday thus far is taking Mrs 11 and 11 Jnr to HKG again. Jnr will have her 5th Bday at Disneyland. HK Disney is really geared towards younger kids whereas the Gold Coast Parks, for mine, are targetted at older children.

I travel a bit for work (though none this year, damn Rudd and his half baked Super Profit tax idea), some of it is driving so whenever I can Mrs and Jr come with.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The Shrek family are going to Noosa late January. I think the Sunshine Coast is beautiful. We usually find the best properties to stay for a large family are self-contained and privately owned. I agree that due to the rising dollar there are many attractive overseas destinations. But as a migrant I still have many places here that I would like to explore and I love holidaying here.

 

[Moopere]

The problems related to why it's overpriced is because it is underserviced and dated. People will pay a decent price for quality, but the quality just isn't here.

Yes, I thiink thats the nub of it. I have read this thread and formed some ideas, but your comment above it about right in my view.

I was just about to say something like: Local pricing is expensive because the cost of living is expensive and no-one should have to get paid below minimum wage. Its the problem of living and working in a 1st world country.

However, there is more then just that as you rightly say. People, both locals and overseas tourists, will pay much higher pricing than you will find in 3rd world SE Asian countries if the -value- is there.

Clearly we are happy to charge top shelf pricing, but for whatever reason are not happy to return the value to tourists that high pricing implies.

 

[ozmille]

But as a migrant I still have many places here that I would like to explore and I love holidaying here.

Very true for me as well. I have only been down under for 3 and a bit years. First two years we did a domestic trip every month (PER, ADL, MEL, HBA, LST, BNE, CNS, DRW) which has now gone down to just a couple a year. Next year we have Adelaide for a weekend and we might do the Hobart Express.

 

[Moopere]

Oh sure. Look, I've lived in Australia my whole life. Been up and down the east coast, now living in the West. Australia is a -huge- place filled to the brim with natural beauty and plenty of interesting constructed environment too.

I want to see it all - really I do. But, despite the fun times and overwhelming fascination of it all, how many here felt like they got good value from their last Australian holiday spend?

The closest I've come in recent years was a trip I took to Cairns. 10 days, 5 star resort, did the rainforest, took the boat to the reef, all the normal stuff. Really really enjoyed the experiences, I mean really, had a fantastic time and would go back in a heartbeat.

Yet, this trip cost me far (far!!) more than a 4 week trip to Mauritius, including airfares staying in similar quality surrounds. Completely different economy in these two places, I understand why one was expensive and one was cheap, but no lie, Mauritius is also a beautiful island with a wealth of natural beauty and the service and facilities were excellent value.

If I had to sum it all up, I'd say our industry has a problem with attitude. As a customer you sometimes feel like you are a hassle and a burden to the people providing you your holidays services. Most of the places I've been overseas I've been met with a completely different attiude, where the local service providers do a really good job of 'faking' their pleasure to see you and your wallet (smile).