The Great Escape

More Kiwis than ever before are making the great escape overseas — and our holiday habits are changing. Figures over four decades compiled by the Herald show traditional hotspots such as Australia and Britain have fallen in popularity relative to new holiday destinations in Asia.

Over the next week we examine the shift in direction, the future shape of the travel industry and the factors driving the travel boom. These include:

More tourists are coming here, meaning more airline seats — which is good for Kiwi travellers who benefit from discounts.

Stable fuel prices are helping lower fares and new, efficient planes will likely make this more sustainable. In some cases the cost of a fare doesn’t cover airport and other charges meaning airlines are effectively giving the seat away.

The rising price of travelling around New Zealand is encouraging Kiwis to look overseas for better value — and better weather.

The millennial traveller is on the rise, there’s a boom in cruising oceans and rivers and special interest tours are growing in popularity.

While the airline and travel sectors are vulnerable to geopolitical events such as terror, war or pandemics, an economist and agents say New Zealanders have built overseas travel firmly into their spending. Some of the biggest growth is among households earning less than $40,000.

And although their demise was forecast a decade ago, traditional bricks-and-mortar agents — with new products and tactics — are still going strong against online-only newcomers.