Why do Australians travel so much compared to the rest of the world?

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Australians-travel-so-much-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world

Assistant:

Australians are known for their high propensity to travel, both domestically and internationally, for several reasons:

Geographical Isolation: Australia is geographically isolated from many other countries, which can encourage Australians to travel abroad to experience different cultures, landscapes, and lifestyles. The vast distances within the country also prompt domestic travel to explore diverse regions.
Strong Economy: A relatively strong economy and high disposable income allow many Australians to afford travel. The growth of low-cost airlines has also made international travel more accessible.
Cultural Attitudes: Travel is often seen as a rite of passage in Australian culture. Many Australians prioritize experiences over material possessions, and travel is viewed as a way to gain new perspectives and enrich their lives.
Education and Work Opportunities: Many Australians travel for educational purposes or work opportunities. Programs like working holidays are popular, allowing young Australians to travel while gaining work experience abroad.
Adventure and Lifestyle: Australians tend to have an adventurous spirit and a love for outdoor activities, which can drive travel to explore new environments, whether that be beaches, mountains, or urban settings.
Social Connectivity: With a significant number of Australians living overseas, travel provides opportunities for reunions and maintaining social connections, which can further encourage international trips.
Government Support: The Australian government has historically supported tourism and travel, both as a means of economic development and cultural exchange, promoting travel as part of the national identity.

These factors combine to create a strong travel culture in Australia, making it one of the most travel-loving nations in the world.

Chris Van Lieshout:

Well we Aussies basically are an adventurous lot and are keen to see the rest of the world.

The fact that four weeks annual leave is standard and on top of that includes a 17.5 Per cent leave loading (unbelievable I know but holidays are expensive) . Frankly I’m not sure if the leave loading still applies as I’ve been retired for a number of years and now enjoy a Government pension of just under $1,000 per fortnight. I am able still to save and am considering a holiday to Spain in 2021 as my neighbour is Spanish and a gem of a guy with a beautiful family.

So a holiday to Spain, France is a possibility. I’ve been to Colorado six times to visit my eldest daughter who married an American and now they have moved back to Oz am looking forward to seeing other countries.

I’ve lived in Papua New Guinea for 12 years and as a Patrol Officer in 1967 with another Kiap did the last great patrol out of Telefomin (near the headwaters of the Sepik River ) and we were in the jungle for 90 days. A carrier line of 30 men to carry our patrol equipment then another 60 carriers to carry food, Six policemen, a medical orderly, and two interpreters plus our cooks for a total of 106 men! Required two air drops to resupply us during the patrol into the Mianmin area then the Atbalmin area and up into the Star Mountains. An incredible adventure meeting people who were previously cannibals and listening to their tales of how the Mianmin people (true warriors) would raid across the Sepik to the Atbalmin area (a cowed people by comparison) and go to their “bokis ice” (refrigerator) as they considered them to be.

My adventure continued years later when I was Working at Government House Port Moresby as Official Secretary and met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 (and had dinner with Her Majesty) so l was fortunate to meet and eat with former Cannibals at one end of society as well as Royalty.

Maybe as an Aussie I’ve always had a love for adventure and travel. So all I can say is go for it when this Covid 19 allows and stay healthy and please use a mask !!!

Allen Lawson:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

As an Australian myself I really do not know why we like to travel and so firstly we can divide travel into two. One half being travel within Australia and the other half being Overseas Travel. I personally do not do the overseas travel because I live alone and have two small companion dogs [Cavalier King Charles spaniels] and that breed do not handle being separated from their owner. So for me overseas travel has been ruled out.

I prefer to travel around my own country and love to observe nature and will either photograph or hand draw what catches my eye at the time. I will travel to a particular place or district because I want to photograph or observe some event. I have lived a semi nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years as there is just so much to see in Australia. I am not into the “Party scene” with loud music and Drunks and rowdy behaviour but prefer the Great Outdoors.

To answer your question as to “Why” I travel so much well here goes. Back a little over 20 years ago I had a house and a family and a business and then “Love Died” and so me and the Dog were evicted from the matrimonial home and at that time it was difficult to rent a Unit if one had a Dog so we became “Homeless” and things really got me down until I was thinking the Unthinkable but the only issue was “The Dog” and so because of The Dog I managed to work through my problems.

I had decided to purchase a small second or third hand Caravan as that way we will never be Homeless again and just get away from the town and wander around with a Camera and an interest in Birds and plants and so 20 years have come and went and now me and a different Dog [obviously] are still travelling on every couple of weeks to where a new adventure waits for me. Yes one learns to scale down ones expectations and so I do not live the lifestyle of the Rich and Famous but I do enjoy what I do. I can make Ground beef taste rather special and enjoy the meal that I have prepared and so what more could one want.

I could ask those who say that Australia is Just Desert with a Westfield Shopping Mall and so Yes some will see it that way but I can name each shrub that is growing in the Desert and show you photographs of its flower that I have captured and which bird that is and where it will build a nest and Why. It is free to observe nature and to photograph its wonders unlike the cost of “Party”.

Carolyn Wardle:

Most Australians get at least a month’s holiday p.a. We also get, after 10 years with the same employer, 10 week’s long service leave. Many of us travel to short destinations, like Bali or Thailand, [or New Zealand, if you live on the east coast] while others, like me, visit British relatives and while there, go on to European destinations [my favourite is Iceland].

Our wages are better than say, the US, especially for people in jobs like bus driver, supermarkets etc.

But I would suggest that Europeans travel at least as much. Even British pensioners frequently visit Spain and other warmer places.

It is also a tradition for many young people to travel, either in a gap year between school and uni or just when they have enough money.

Mind you, at present, we are not going anywhere, except within our own state!

Rod Davies:

Originally Answered: Do Australians travel internationally more than people from other countries? If so, what explains the difference?

I have no firm facts or figures to back up my thoughts, but, my thoughts are.

Europeans who live in close proximity to other countries would travel internationally much more than Australians. Many European friends of mine would tell me about how they would spend weekends in neighbouring countries, or even just duck across the border for dinner. We recently hosted a 17 year old Italian girl who told us where she had been and where she was going with her friends when she got back, and for her, it was quite natural to go to Greece or Spain for a weekend with her friends. There are quite a few Americans who live close to either the Mexican or Canadian borders, to duck across for the day or weekend, as an Australian would travel to the next town.

If you are talking about longer distance travels, then, I would certainly think that Australians travel more than most other nationalities. Most Australians travel more domestically than other nationalities from what I've heard, and don't think much about doing a 1000km (or much further) road trip internally. Due to cheap airfares, many Australians, take weekend getaway flights to other cities. (I now I regularly take my wife away for the weekend on $49 flights.

Some reasons why Australians travel so much are due to our generally high disposable incomes and our large amount of paid leave. The absolute minimum amount of leave, is similar to most of Europe at around 4 weeks a year, but in some industries, or rosters, it is 6 weeks annual leave a year. On top of this are around 9 days public holiday, then around 3 weeks sick leave, while some get 3+ weeks of carers leave and other similar types of leave. Add 3 months long service leave to this and some people can take quite a bit of time off to travel with their generally high wages. On top of this, generally speaking, Australians tend to be more on the outgoing and adventurous side, so usually, not likely to sit at home and watch the telly for their holidays. (though yes, I know some do)

With cheap international flights out of Australia on some of the budget airlines, it is no big deal to fly over to New Zealand for a long weekend of skiing, or for a few hundred dollars fly to Bali for a few days to escape winter and top up our tans a little. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, New Zealand and many Pacific islands are regular short trip destinations where it is relatively cheap for us to get away for a winter escape. I read in Quora about Australia being isolated and so far from everywhere, but we are relatively close to Asia, and only a full days flight from anywhere in the world. As I mentioned, Australians often don't think much about a 12–18 hour road trip, likewise, a 12–18Hr flight is not too much concern since we have the money and the time.

In my situation (6 weeks annual leave plus 9 days public holiday a year and long service leave building up) I have 10 people in my crew at work. 8 of the 10 are or have travelled internationally this year. I am the only one over 35 years old. Out of the other two, one spent 6 weeks in Europe last year and is saving his time to spend 8 weeks in Europe next year. The other person has hardly travelled more than 200km from home, so he is not a real jetsetter. 39 out of 42 employees at my branch have passports. Currently 6–7 of those 42 are overseas, but this likely due to winter time being our rush period of people travelling away in my area.

Away from work, pretty much all of my friends have travelled internationally in the last 2 years, usually a ski trip in New Zealand or Japan, or escape the winter to Bali or Pacific Islands, with a few flying for longer trips to Europe or America. My 17 year old daughter has just returned from a trip to Japan and is planning a trip with school friends to Vietnam and Cambodia in November.

Jules:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

To enjoy seeing the scenery change, different climates, to roam. And that’s just inside Australia, for then there’s overseas, with the various cultures, different scenery, a longer history of settlement in the old towns and villages. Meeting people of a different culture. Seeing the differences, but also the similarities. Becoming more broad minded and worldly; not so insular and inward looking. Seeing that although we live in a great country, there are many other great countries too.

However, at present with our borders closed, it’s just Australia for us at present. Fortunately there’s a lot of country to explore.

Kathryn Wright:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

We live a long way from many other places like North America & Europe, so as such we like to visit and explore other places & their cultures. We also are well paid and have 4 weeks annual paid holiday each year as a legal condition of employment here in Oz so we have time and the dollars to spend on travel. NZ is just across the ditch (Tasman Sea) but as we are sort of at the bottom of the globe most other countries are distant and we love to see them when we can. Aussies are an adventurous lot who are friendly and well liked and accepted just about everywhere.

Harley Vague:

Originally Answered: Do Australians travel internationally more than people from other countries? If so, what explains the difference?

Do Australians travel internationally more than people from other countries? If so, what explains the difference?

Australians appear to travel a lot because when they do travel it tends to be for extended periods. Australians actually do travel a lot as at any one time there is a significant proportion of the population outside of Australia.

As to were Australia sits on the travel premiership I don’t know. It is very easy for Europeans to rack up a great number of international visits because of the number of countries in close proximity. Australians would travel more than some countries with the equivalent disposable income. It always amazes Australians how little most Britons make use of being geographically close to Europe for example.

Sue, NSW, AUSTRALIA:

The simple answer is: because we CAN!

We have generous pay, great leave conditions and curious natures. That gives us the money, the time and the motivation to travel.

Shane Thomas:

Originally Answered: Do Australians travel internationally more than people from other countries? If so, what explains the difference?

Yes Australians are good travelers most have passports and use them.

There are many budget airlines connecting Australia to all the world.

We are isolated from the world yet we are curious and love to travel.

Being a big country 5 hours of flight time to cross it. Depending where you live in Australia 1.5 to 8 hours of flight time gets you many international destinations.

Often international flights and or packages are cheaper than domestic.

Happy travels

Tim Fountain:

I don’t know if its true, at least compared to most wealthy nations in the world. Compared to the Americans (of the US variety), certainly on international travel. Germans are everywhere, as are Brits, Canadians and Dutch; and New Zealanders get around a lot for a small population nation.

Americans tend to travel internationally less largely because they get two weeks annual leave (if they are lucky), compared to anything from four to eight in other comparable nations. Americans also have low wages at the lower end, compared to western Europe, Canada, Australia, etc. And a large country with a lot to see (as does Canada and Australia).

Other than that anomaly, and traditionally the French tended to largely stay within France, I’m not sure there is that much difference.

Asia is close (well, 8–9 hours but that’s short-haul international by Australian standards) and cheap. Europe holds a lot of heritage for many people, and the sheer age and history is a drawcard that can’t be matched locally. And of course, the United States is culturally dominant thanks to Hollywood so holds an attraction for many.

Lynne Chamberlain:

Australians are not arrogant enough to believe that the rest of the world offers them nothing in the way of new experiences.

Michael Coburn:

I have no idea if that is true.

But if it is it is because we can. We are a wealthy nation and our people can afford it. They have a spirit of adventure and like to see the rest of the world.

Another likely reason is that we are mostly migrants, if not first generation then we have at least one migrant not too far back in the history of our families. Many are curious to visit their ancestral country or may have living relatives to visit.

Ozmaniac:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

We’re used to travelling great distances within Australia, yet, while the natural scenery changes, we all speak the same language, go to the same type of schools, live in much the same houses etc etc wherever we go.

We’re well educated and most people have a fair amount of disposable income so if we want really different experiences, we get on a plane and go overseas. And then we find that travel is addictive!

I think I’m a far better Australian because of travelling as much as I have.

Hayley Kolinski:

Originally Answered: Do Australians travel internationally more than people from other countries? If so, what explains the difference?

No. We actually travel less internationally. Our country is huge. I still haven’t seen it all and I travel several times a year. I’ve only been internationally once, to New Zealand, but I’ve been on 137 flights. We also don’t have any neighbouring countries without ocean between us. It’s so simple to travel internationally and in europe especially. It only take a couple of hours by road or train to get from one country to the next! If Australia was broken into smaller countries as small as most other countries, we would be travelling internationally more than any other nationality in the world. we also don’t do as many international business trips as the US or UK because it’s way too expensive to send every businessman over the other side of the globe for every meeting.

Robert Crooks:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

One wonderful tradition that Australia and New Zealand have is “Long Service Leave.” After, I think, six or seven years of service with an employer, the person may take six months leave (whether with or without pay, I’m sure— ANZACS help me out here).

This frees them up for really serious travel if they want it.

Adrian Crowe:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

The question is … why do Americans travel overseas so little?

Nathan Worrell:

Originally Answered: Why do Australians travel so much?

Because Australia is god damn boring. You can visit a town on the East Coast, fly to the other side of the continent, and it's exactly the same. The same shops, the same historic Georgian and Victorian buildings, the same views, largely the same climate, the same accent etc. Driving from Sydney to Perth you get a Westfield Shopping Mall, gum trees, thousands...

Ian Buchanan:

because we can’t just drive across an imaginary line to get to another country, and people who can afford to travel overseas get adequate paid leave.

Chris Price:

There are many reasons:

Australia is far from the rest of the world, so when Australians get out of their country, they go for a long time and visit a lot of countries, like doing a tour around the world
There is a tradition for young Australians to take a year off at the end of their studies to go discover the world
Many Australians have relatives in the UK or in other European countries they like to visit and they visit other countries on the way on stopover
Australia is about the same everywhere and doesn’t have the deep culture and history of Asia and Europe, so it makes it interesting to travel there
Australians are rich, have 4 weeks of paid vacations plus long-service leaves, so they can afford to travel
Australia is an expensive place to travel, so it’s cheaper to travel in Asia, Latin America and even in some countries of Europe than in Australia
Australia’s seasons are reversed to the Northern Hemisphere, so Australians like to enjoy the summer in other countries when it’s winter in Australia and cool down during their long hot summer