According to research by Australian Seniors, in partnership with consumer research group CoreData, nearly three-quarters (74%) of over 50s are already planning their next big holidays – but their outlook on travel has changed.

The Travel Trends Report 2022 surveyed over 1,000 Australians over 50 and found that factors such as the pandemic, ongoing international conflicts, effects of climate change, and widespread uncertainty have altered travel patterns and preferences.

The rising cost of living has also impacted seniors’ return to domestic and international travel, with the vast majority (80%) feeling travel is becoming more difficult to afford these days.

In order to fund their next holiday, a large portion admitted to emptying out their savings (86%), spending the kid’s inheritance (14%), drawing down on super (10%) or taking on credit cards or personal loans (9%).

While Australians could be using their accumulated travel credits to help curb the cost of travelling during this time, the report found that nearly four in 10 Australians say they are difficult or confusing to use. 

With the cost of living pressures continuing to rise, most seniors (90%) also don’t’ feel comfortable to travel abroad without travel insurance.

The data suggests that the majority (74%) of Australian seniors are wary of visiting Eastern Europe due to threats of the war in Ukraine, as well as to Turkey and the Middle East due to ongoing conflict and terrorism (64%).

Nearly two-thirds (63%) have similar concerns about travelling to Hong Kong, China, and South Korea due to ongoing COVID-19 health orders and lockdown measures in those regions. 

Many seniors (66%) have waited three years or more since their last big holiday, with nearly a third (29%) planning a European getaway in 2022 - topping the list as the most popular destination.

As more than half (54%) remain mindful of COVID-19 related risks, travelling interstate to Australian destinations follows closely in second (23%), with more than a third (36%) more likely to consider travelling around Australia now than two years ago. 

Associate Professor in Tourism at the University of Queensland Gabby Walters said this is great news for the Australian tourism sector.

"Regional and coastal tourism locations that can continue to expect steady visitation from the seniors market, as traveling domestically presents significantly less risk and more certainty around travel planning for seniors," Ms Walters said.

"Traveling to overseas destinations at the current time requires a lot more planning and preparation compared to pre COVID times.

"There is also uncertainty in relation to foreign COVID related policies and travel restrictions, access to medical treatment if required and many foreign countries are still very much in recovery mode."


Advertisement

Want to earn a fixed interest rate on your cash? The table below features term deposits with some of the highest interest rates on the market for a six-month term. 

Provider

At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Easy online application
  • Interest can be paid to other institutions
  • Maturity alert by email and phone

Term Deposit - 6 months

  • Easy online application
  • Interest can be paid to other institutions
  • Maturity alert by email and phone
At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]10001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • $1,000 minimum deposit
  • Easy online application
  • Let your money work for you

Term Deposit - 7 months

  • $1,000 minimum deposit
  • Easy online application
  • Let your money work for you
At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Guaranteed rate of return
  • Manage your term deposit online
  • Choose your own term - Options range from one month to five years

Term Deposit - 6 months

  • Guaranteed rate of return
  • Manage your term deposit online
  • Choose your own term - Options range from one month to five years
Annually, Semi-Annually, At Maturity, Monthly$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

Term Deposit - 6 months

    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]25000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Term Investment ($25k-$100k) - 6 months

      At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]500031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      TDs Premier Investment ($5k - $250k) - 6 months

        Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]500031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Term Deposit ($5000-$999999) - 6 months

          Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]25000031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Term Deposit ($250k+) - 6 Months

            At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]100031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Term Deposit ($1000+) - 6 months

              Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]100031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Term Deposit ($1000+) - 6 months

                Annually, At Maturity, Monthly$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Term Deposit ($10000+) - 6 months

                  Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Term Deposit - 6 months

                    Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]50007$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    Term Deposit - 6 Months

                      Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]100031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Term Deposit - 6 months

                        At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]500031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Term Deposit - 6 months

                          At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]2500031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Term Deposit ($25k-$5m) - 6 months

                            At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]500000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            Fixed Term Deposit ($500000+) - 6 months

                              At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]10007$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                              Term Deposit ($1k-$1m) - 6 months

                                At Maturity, Annually$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]250000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                Fixed Term Deposit ($250000-$500000) - 6 months

                                  Annually, At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]50031$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                  Term Deposit ($500-$19999) - 6 months

                                    Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                    All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of April 20, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                    Image by Kampus Production via Pexels.