Think you know how Aussies like to travel?

It’s no surprise that Australians are one of the most travelled people in the world. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released a report which showed a record annual 11.2 million Aussie trips overseas within 2018-19, representing a 5.4 million increase from 10 years ago. New Zealand remains the top destination for Aussie travellers with 1.4 million short term trips, while Indonesia is a close second at 1.3 million trips. Holiday was the main reason for 57% of all short-term trips overseas while visiting friends and relatives was next at 26%. Travelling has become part of the Australian culture and has been steadily increasing over the years, but where do Australians want to go and what are they looking for?

Aussies are now travelling for more than just good memories and selfies. The TripAdvisor 2019 Experiences Trend Report revealed that travellers are booking more homegrown experiences next to worldwide tours and activities. According to Janice Lee Fang, a TripAdvisor spokesperson, “immersive experiences are officially the new travel souvenir. Our data shows Australian travellers increasingly want more from their holiday than just photographs of iconic sites and landmarks— instead, there’s a growing appetite for activities that will lead to unforgettable memories. Whether it’s a pottery class in Siem Reap or having breakfast with Orangutans at the Singapore Zoo, Aussie travellers are looking to live, breathe, and experience everything a place has to offer.”

Off-peak travel is another growing trend among Australians. We’ve all been there. Waiting in line for hours, hustling to get the best holiday snap and that picture-perfect Instagram post, finding the best accommodations only to find out that it’s all booked out. Most of us want to avoid crowds, save money, and get the best experience possible. The solution? Off-peak travel. According to Trafalgar’s The Good Life Study,off-peak travel is becoming more popular with 61% of people regarding large crowds as a negative aspect of travel. Yes, there will always be crowds and they are there for a reason, but off-peak travel gives you the opportunity to experience the same places in a different light and relish the quiet, cold and cost-effectiveness.

Many destinations that used to be quiet are now not so much. Travellers often don’t have the luxury of enjoying quality destinations without queueing up and going through the crowds. The rapid increase in tourism and travel, not only by Australians but almost everywhere in the world has led to overcrowding in popular destinations. And as tourism caps continue to be rolled out in these high-traffic destinations, travellers will keep looking (and thinking) outside the box, replacing destinations such as Paris and Bali for Antwerp and Lombok. 

The craving for authenticity and experiences also shows significant promise. Whether it’s going on a farm out in the country, camping in the middle of a pristine national park or basking in the sun along the shoreline, people are after journeys to inspire a lifetime of storytelling.

 

Many Australian travellers also hunt the pristine and “Instagram-able” when choosing their dream destination. The growing reliance on feeds, hashtags, and Insta worthy posts have been seen to guide future travels of the younger demographic. According to Expedia’s recent #liketotravel report, one in four travellers have picked holiday spots based on social media posts and 67% go by the “Instagrammability” when choosing holidays and travel destinations. This trend is on an upward and cyclic trajectory, “not only is it about the ability to document travel experiences on social media, but the hotels are creating more and more Instagrammable experiences as well” – Anthony Goldman. 

Millions of people travel to Bali each year seeking a beach paradise and end up in overcrowded beaches with mediocre accommodations. Truth be told, they are better off looking 30 miles east to a lesser-known island of Lombok. The coastline of Lombok offers a wild and untamed beauty, Southern Lombok one of Southeast Asia’s hidden gems. 

The Indonesian island of Lombok is growing in popularity for the adventurous traveller. The country’s second-highest volcano Gunung Rinjani, rises in the north of the island, while numerous trekking trails surround an interior of lush forests and fertile rural areas. Lombok’s southern coast also offers a spectacular combination of gentle hidden coves and legendary surf surrounded by towering headlands. This island is an up and coming destination fully loaded with tropical allure for outdoor enthusiasts.

One group making significant movements in the Lombok region is the Lombok Property Group (LPG). LPG was created as a merger from five existing Lombok based property-related businesses and is currently developing a number of key projects. Lombok is now on the brink of boasting 11 Luxury Villas and a Clubhouse resort made from quality building materials with an outstanding design. The project is in a prime location and the view of Kuta Bay is breathtaking. 

But it’s not just the grandeur development that’s going to catch tourists’ attention, it’s the rest of the growth in the Lombok region that’s going to be drawing the crowds. Lombok is soon to host its very own international airport, allowing tourists to fly direct from Melbourne. The MotoGP is set to hit the streets of Lombok in 2121, and LPG is getting ready. The property group already has a partnership with the Indonesian government and has taken steps to ensure Lombok is ready for when it eclipses the number one spot as the fastest-growing tourism area in the Asia Pacific.

Lombok has much of what Australians look for in the perfect holiday – pristine surroundings untouched by pollution and crowds. A “classier” version of Bali, it leaves nothing to be desired in terms of luxury and authenticity. With upcoming direct flights, it’s an ideal close-to-home destination for off-peak travel. 

While the region still remains well off from the mainstream tourist radar, it won’t be long until travellers start discovering the area due to its proximity to Bali and access to a newly constructed international airport and infrastructure. 

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Reach Markets have been engaged by LPG to assist with private investor management. Lombok Property Group has recently launched a brand new website detailing development updates and more information for its unique SIWA Cliffs project. You can see more at https://www.siwacliffs.com/