Melbourne the number one capital city Aussies would like to visit on holiday

WHEN it comes to taking a holiday at home, this city has been voted Australia’s dud. So what do people hate about it?

Perth has fallen out of favour with Aussie travellers.

SORRY Perth, when it comes to taking a holiday at home, you’re a bit of a dud.

That’s the latest findings by Roy Morgan Research that looked at which Australian capital city had the most holiday appeal for Aussies.

In 2006, just over 13.2 million Australians over 14 years of age reported that they’d like to spend a holiday within Australia in the next two years. Fast forward to 2016, and that figure now sits at almost 14.8 million.

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Even the spectacular beaches surrounding Perth can’t pull a crowd.

So which city claimed the number one title? Victoria can start feeling smug with Melbourne retaining its top position as the most popular city for a holiday at home. Just over 4.2 million people said they’d like to visit in the next two years — an increase of 33 per cent over the last decade.

“Melbourne’s continued ascendance is testament to the city’s cross-generational appeal. With its blockbuster sporting events and art exhibitions; sensational shopping, dining and night-life; and countless daytrip possibilities, Melbourne does indeed have something for everyone,” says Norman Morris, Industry Communications Director, Roy Morgan Research.

Melbourne is top of the list for Aussies holidaying at home. Picture: The Langham hotel

Unsurprisingly, Sydney came in at second place, keeping the famed interstate NSW vs. VIC rivalry alive.

While Sydney’s rise wasn’t quite as steep — from 1.9 million to 2.4 million — it was enough to keep it at number two.

However it was Perth that seems to have lost its appeal among Aussie travellers, slipping from 1.7 million would-be visitors to 1.5 million in the last 10 years. The “west coast is the best coast” tag line seems to no longer apply with the city overtaken by Brisbane (1.8 million, up from 1.4 million) and Hobart (also 1.8 million, up from 1.4 million).

Brisbane is redefining itself with bars and restaurants attracting the younger crowd.

“Where Perth was once Australia’s third-most desired capital-city destination, it has given way to Brisbane, Hobart and Canberra over the last 10 years,” says Morris.

“This raises the question: why is WA’s capital losing its appeal? Certainly, over the last 10 years, Hobart’s cachet has been boosted by MONA, while Brisbane’s burgeoning foodie culture could be capturing the imagination of a different kind of traveller than in previous years.

“But Perth’s star seems to have dimmed in the aftermath of the mining downturn — with other famed WA destinations such as Broome and Margaret River also losing popularity in the last decade.”

Canberra is also shedding its title as Australia’s most boring city — almost 1.5 million Australians say they’d like to visit the nation’s capital in the next two years (up from 1.2 million in 2006), while Adelaide is in the sights of an additional 200,000 potential visitors.

Lonsdale Street Roasters cafe in Canberra bringing cool to the city.

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