Demand for international travel is up, up and away – here’s where South Aussies are going

Overseas travel is back, with international bookings overtaking domestic for the first time since Covid – here are the top five spots for South Australians.

Overseas travel is well and truly back as the darkest days of Covid-19 fade and pent-up demand is unleashed.

RAA Travel international bookings have overtaken domestic for the first time since the pandemic shut down overseas travel.

This time last year bookings were 19 per cent international to 81 per cent domestic, finally drawing level in November, then in December it was 56 per cent international to 44 per cent domestic.

Adelaide newlyweds Tori Comacchio and Talyn Simms, spent their honeymoon in Koh Samui in Thailand. Picture: RAA Travel

RAA Travel general manager Gina Norman urged holiday-makers not to leave their bookings to the last minute as flights in the first half of this year are already heavily booked for some of the most popular travel destinations.

“We’re finding that more and more of our customers are regaining the confidence to travel overseas for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak,” Ms Norman said.

“Countries around the world are continuing to lift travel restrictions, opening up more international destinations which South Australians are jumping on.

“The UK and Europe are the most popular destinations for South Aussies — many of whom are taking their first overseas holiday in a few years.”

Adelaide newlyweds Tori Comacchio and Talyn Simms, both 28, recently spent their honeymoon in Koh Samui in Thailand and are in the process of booking a Europe trip for later in the year.

Adelaide newlyweds Tori Comacchio and Talyn Simms, spent their honeymoon in Koh Samui in Thailand. Picture: RAA Travel

“We always wanted to travel internationally but obviously haven’t had the chance in the last few years with Covid restrictions,” Tori said.

“Going overseas meant we could experience a new culture, try authentic food and fill our days with exciting activities. Now that restrictions have eased around the world we have decided that 2023 will be our year of travel.”

RAA Travel data shows the top overseas destinations are UK/Europe followed by South East Asia, New Zealand, North America and the South West Pacific.

The Adelaide Economic Development Agency is hosting a tourism insights event on Tuesday with speakers including Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox, SATC chief executive Emma Terry and strategy & insights manager Adam Stanford, Adelaide Economic Development Agency Economic analyst Jordon Tomopoulos and Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison.

CBD bookings outlook hits record high

A flurry of hotel room bookings for the Saturday of AFL Gather Round have spurred Adelaide CBD occupancy rates to their highest 10-week outlook for any event on record.

Three games to be held that day are now sold out, including the Lions v North Melbourne at Mount Barker and a double header at Adelaide Oval.

Of the 10,276 hotel rooms available in the city, 77 per cent are already sold.

The previous highest 10-week outlook was 57 per cent, which was recorded ahead of New Year’s Eve 2022.

The March long weekend is also expected to be busy after all three-day, four-day and Saturday tickets to WOMADelaide sold-out more than a month out from the event.

Almost half those sales came from visitors to South Australia, including international visitors.

At one month out from the festival, for booking show average occupancy over the WOMADelaide weekend are already at 79 per cent — up 27 per cent on the same time in 2022.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said Adelaide hotels were filling fast “thanks to our blockbuster calendar of events”.

“There is no doubt, eyes are on South Australia with new events like the Gather Round and LIV Golf, and it’s creating real wins for our tourism and hospitality sectors,” she said.

“When ticket sales translate to tourists in our city and booking in our hotels — that’s exactly why we go out hard to secure major events and invest in our calendar year-round.”

Ian Horne, chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association SA, said hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes will do a roaring trade of the back of the events calendar.

“We’re already seeing the impact that events have on hotel bookings — our upcoming events and festivals are driving occupancy rates in Adelaide to record-breaking highs, making us the envy of other states,” he said.

- Kathryn Bermingham

Originally published as Demand for international travel is up, up and away – here’s where South Aussies are going