A startling number of Aussies are now reluctant to pack their bags for a trip overseas, according to a new study.
A Finder survey of 1062 Australians shows nearly 50 per cent are reluctant to travel abroad, with multiple reasons quashing their wanderlust.
Some 26 per cent said they were worried about something going wrong in a foreign country, while 12 per cent cited fears about their homes being broken into while away.
About 17 per cent said they avoided jetting off so they would not have to leave their pets behind, while 15 per cent said travel-related administration headaches such as securing visas made them jittery to jet out and see the world.
Finder insurance expert Tim Bennett said moving away from familiar settings could generate stress for some people.
“In some cases it’s not worth the hassle for them,” he said.
“However, nervous travellers may have regrets later in life if they don’t confront their fears.”
The results come on the back of a set of troubling travel incidents and changes to travel that have hit Australians abroad in recent months.
On May 21, dozens of passengers, including Australians, suffered severe injuries on-board Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 after the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft suddenly climbed then pitched down within seconds in a terrifying turbulence-induced “rollercoaster”.
The turbulence hit the plane while it was over Myanmar on its way to Singapore from London.
Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British man, lost his life during the event from a suspected heart attack.
In May, sudden political unrest in New Caledonia left dozens of Australians stranded in the small Pacific nation.
The Australian Defence Force evacuated more than 100 Australians from the chaos.
The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and sectarian conflict in parts of India have also triggered new travel warnings for Australians this year.
And in January, Bali, the most popular travel destination for Australians, introduced a new $15 “tourist tax” on travellers.
But while the survey suggests there is widespread caution in Australians about travel, there is also a substantial chunk of the population who will always travel whenever they can.
Some 38 per cent of respondents said nothing would deter them from travelling.
Putting aside cost and time, which of the following put you off travelling the most?
|
Fear of something going wrong in a foreign country |
26% |
|
Being away from my pets |
17% |
|
Travel-related admin (e.g. getting a visa) |
15% |
|
Fear of my home being broken into |
12% |
|
Figuring out which insurance I need |
11% |
|
Missing friends and family (homesick) |
11% |
|
Fear of being locked outside of Australia (e.g. visa or permanent residency expiring) |
8% |
|
Being away from friends / family that I need to care for |
7% |
|
Nothing puts me off travelling |
38% |
|
I don’t travel |
13% |
Source: Finder
The data, drawn from a survey in March, removes key factors such as “cost” and “time” in evaluating travel desires.
“For many people, the risks and inconveniences are just part and parcel of holidaying and don’t let this stop them,” Mr Bennett said.
“For those who are worried, there are some simple steps to take that might help quell your fears.
“You can reduce the impact of things going wrong overseas by organising your travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip.
Mr Bennett also said home and contents insurance and surveillance systems like Google Nest could protect against crime while on holiday overseas.
“The most important thing is that you can stop worrying and enjoy your holiday,” he said.