News

• New Future of Travel research shows men, on average, are planning to take more overseas trips in the next 12 months than women and Gen Z (72 per cent) and Millennials (69 per cent) are more likely than those older to plan to travel overseas in the next 12 months. The largest group planning to take two trips is Millennials at 19 per cent

• Men are more likely to have travelled overseas in the last 12 months than women (50 per cent vs 38 per cent). While Millennials and Gen Z are also more likely than other groups to have travelled overseas during this period (57 per cent and 48 per cent respectively)
• Those with children under 18 at home are more likely than their counterparts, to say that they are more likely to travel overseas over the next 12 months, despite the rising cost of living
• Over two in five (44 per cent) of New Zealanders have travelled overseas in the last 12 months (compared to 2023: 32 per cent)
• Three in five (61 per cent) are planning to travel overseas over the next 12 months (compared to 2023: 57 per cent)

According to the latest Future of Travel study from Southern Cross Travel Insurance, there’s something which stands out when it comes to the demographics of travel.

While women are more likely to put off a trip overseas by some considerable margin (59 per cent (F) vs. 41 per cent (M)), men are ready and raring to go, despite the impact on all our wallets of the cost of living

Jo McCauley, CEO for Southern Cross Travel Insurance says, “This is the third Future of Travel study we’ve conducted and yet again, it’s thrown up some interesting insights about what’s important to travellers, who’s travelling and how.

“We were was fascinated to see a clear difference between genders when it comes to travel patterns. While research shows women make 80 per cent of all household spending decisions, it appears they’re more reluctant to spend on travel than their male counterparts.

“In our first Future of Travel study in 2022, women were generally more positive than men about what travel could deliver for them. They were more likely to see travel as giving them the opportunity to have a complete break, to experience new cultures, to reward themselves and to create memories with family and friends. However, the new study results show men, on average, are planning to take more overseas trips in the next 12 months than women (1.06 trips compared to 0.85 trips).

“When it comes to generational differences, Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to be planning to take an overseas trip over the next 12 months, with Millennials planning to take more trips compared to Gen Z, Gen X and Baby Boomers.

“One interesting result is that 20 per cent of people surveyed who had families with children at home under 18 said they were more likely to travel overseas over the next 12 months, compared to 2023, despite the rising cost of living. “We believe we’re still seeing pent-up demand from New Zealanders who are now free to travel after the pandemic shutdown. While an average of 61 per cent of all those surveyed said they would be taking an international trip in the next 12 months, 69 per cent of Millennials and 72 per cent of Gen Z were making plans to head offshore. And it’s clear they are keen to adventure far and wide.

“We looked at our topline claims data to see where customers had needed to make a claim between 1 Jan and 31 Dec in 2023. They went absolutely everywhere – from Albania, Australia, and Fiji to almost every country in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and even unusual spots like Uzbekistan, the Solomons and Oman.

“New Zealanders’ penchant for travel is powerful even in the face of pressure on household incomes, and we’ll support them whether they are heading away for a sun-soaked break over the winter, to surf in Bali, catching up with their grown-up kids in London, or attending a wedding in India.

Notes for editors:

The Future of Travel study was conducted online between 5th – 9th January 2024. The sample comprised of a nationally representative sample of 1,023 New Zealanders aged 18 years and older.

¹Gen Z (1997 - 2009)

Millennials (1981 - 1996)

Gen X (1965 - 1980)

Baby Boomer (1946 - 1964)

Silent (1945 and before)