Direct flights are driving prices down as resorts compete for Australian business, writes Jane E. Fraser in the Age Newspaper today.
If you’re thinking about a resort holiday, now is a great time to book. Overseas resort destinations are battling it out for Australian travellers, resulting in rock-bottom deals for favourites such as Fiji, Bali and Phuket. “Many are discounting their prices to levels we’ve never seen before,” says the general manager, brand, of travel.com.au, Lisa Ferrari. “Many Aussies would be surprised to see where their travel budgets can take them. Australians can head off to neighbouring countries for under $1000.”
New flights are one of the biggest drivers of competition between resort destinations, bringing improved access and increased price competition. Fiji and Phuket have been among the biggest winners, with new services from Jetstar and V Australia.
The latest overseas arrivals and departures figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the number of Australians travelling overseas is up about 18 per cent on last year, with more than 900,000 people taking trips in January and February. “We have seen many holiday resorts heavily discounting their products to attract Aussie travellers,” Ferrari says. “Favourable exchange rates are boosting their popularity even more. In some cases it has become cheaper to travel overseas than domestically.”
Australian visitor numbers for Thailand were up about 11 per cent for the first three months of the year, based on figures from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Kanittanon says V Australia’s new flights to Phuket will provide a boost but it is too early to measure.
