| Cruise sentiment high

RESPONDENTS to an SMP and Stollznow survey exploring what pent up demand looks like for Australian travellers has indicated that, if allowed to travel overseas for a holiday, 10% would elect for an ocean cruise in the next 12 months.

This would equate to 1.5 million Australians craving a cruise, meaning pent-up demand is ahead of the number of Australians who cruised during the record-setting 2018 season (1.34 million).

The study also captured respondent characteristics and demographics, with males (62%) more likely to take a cruise than females (38%), which correlated with the will to travel overseas (60% for males versus 40% for females).

When viewed from a state and territory perspective, respondents from New South Wales were most likely to opt for an ocean cruise.

“While this is based on intention, we can say with confidence that subject to state borders remaining open and our international one opening up in greater capacity, then travel is on the cards for close to 10 million Australians” said Director Neil Stollznow.

“This would see billions of dollars transacted right throughout the economy and bring much needed reprieve to struggling sectors decimated by the impact COVID-19 has had.”

Stollznow said the around 3.5 million Australians were “fence-sitters”, and still unconvinced of travel over the next 12 months, which is a huge potential segment of the market worth pursuing, and would be a considerable win for industry to convert them into customers.