Young Aussie Travellers are Prioritising Travel as a rite-of-passage to mark Independence

First Independent Travel

New data released today 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 1,000 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 18 to 25-year-olds to embark on their first trip as 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 who plan to do so in the future. Skyscanner Travel Expert Jarrod Kris said 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,” Mr Kris said. “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,” he said.

“Planning can sometimes be overwhelming for a traveller taking charge for the first time, which is why we aim to assist through our First Trip resource hub, directing them towards our 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,” he said.

Key highlights from ‘First Trip with Skyscanner’s Report:

• Young women leading 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 go 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 own personal savings!

Only 26% of young Aussies are travelling using money from parents/guardians. With over 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 hotels 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, please refer to the full report provided. 

• First Trip resource hub