However, the company didn’t necessarily need this data to know people were eager to travel; full flights and demand for travel insurance were clear signs.
“We’ve all seen so much commentary around airlines coming back to New Zealand and flights chock-a-block pretty much everywhere as people get back into travelling,” said Southern Cross Travel Insurance CEO Jo McCauley.
“We’re seeing that change reflected in our sales, which have been consistently strong since borders reopened, and especially over the last few months,” she added.
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Meanwhile, Booking.com’s 2023 Travel Confidence Index research also found Kiwis had an appetite for travel and more specifically, a desire to seek relaxation while away.
Of 800 Kiwis surveyed, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) wanted a relaxing holiday and one-third (32 per cent) wanted to escape the reality of their day-to-day lives.
However, there still was a desire to save money where possible, according to responses.
When asked how they would save money when planning their next trip, the most popular tactic for Kiwis was staying at a cheaper accommodation (40 per cent), followed by “spend less while travelling”.
Todd Lacey, Oceania regional manager at Booking.com, said this indicated how Kiwis would look for workarounds to afford travel even when times were tight.
“It’s clear that travel will continue to be a priority for Kiwi travellers, who are thinking smartly about how they prioritise their spend so they don’t miss out on experiences,” he said.
“Despite being one of the last countries to return to travel in 2022, insights from this year’s Travel Confidence Index reassuringly proves that New Zealand is well on its way to reclaiming its position as a world-leading tourism destination.”
