Online Shines as Australians Log On to Travel
The online travel market in Australia continues to grow, with Australians leading the rest of the region in researching and booking travel online, according to the latest figures released today by ZUJI, Asia Pacific's leading online travel company.
ZUJI released its second quarterly ZUJI Online Travel Report, offering insights into consumer demographic and booking trends across the Asia Pacific region. The Report was launched at a Forum in Sydney attended by e-business leaders*, discussing major e-commerce trends and the current drivers behind the success of online travel in Australia.
The Online Travel Report found that Australians are the most confident online travellers in the region, with 88 percent completing their transactions online - compared with only 80 percent for the entire Asia Pacific - and 99 percent of Australians paying by credit card.
According to industry analysts Marketshare, the online travel market in Asia Pacific will grow from US$8 billion in 2003 to US$16 billion in 2006, with Australia the second largest market in the region. Supporting these figures, ZUJI has achieved average growth in bookings of 64 percent every quarter since January 2003 until June 2004. ZUJI has almost a million members across Asia Pacific, including 229,000 in Australia.
In the past two years, online travel in Australia has grown by 28.8 percent, according to Nielsen//Netratings, the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis. "In June 2004 alone, nearly 4 million Australians visited an online travel site," said Markus von der Luehe, Senior Analyst for Nielsen//Netratings. "That means that 44 percent of the total active online population in Australia visit a site every month for travel information or to book their next holiday."
Other key findings of the ZUJI Online Travel Report were that more than two-thirds of all online travel consumers in Australia take between two and four trips each year, and 10 percent take more than five trips. Shorter lead times are common with 32 percent of travellers book their flights within two weeks of travel, and 72 percent take trips of less than seven days.
According to Jo O'Brien, General Manager for ZUJI Australia, these statistics are indicative of a growing trend towards more frequent and spontaneous travel in Australia. "The growth of low cost carriers in Australia, and the general availability of extremely good deals has made travel a lot more affordable for everyday Australians. The strong Australian dollar and general stability around the region means that people are more enthusiastic and confident to travel than they have been for years."
The Online Travel Report found that online travel consumers are spread fairly evenly over most household income brackets, however high income earners make up the largest group, with 39 percent of households having an annual income of AU$75,000 or more.
The report also found that online travel is still very popular with singles and couples, with 90 percent of all bookings for just one or two people in the second quarter.
Ms O'Brien commented that the biggest growth for ZUJI in the second quarter was from hotel and accommodation. "We have witnessed more than 150 percent growth in hotel bookings since the beginning of the year, and we expect this growth to continue into 2005. What is interesting is that many Australians prefer the option of booking their accommodation further out, with only 54 percent of hotel rooms booked within three weeks of travel. Clearly the distressed inventory model does not suit a lot of Australian travellers who need more choice and flexibility."
Nearly all customers were comfortable with travelling domestically using electronic tickets (97 percent), while a much smaller number used electronic tickets for international travel. "While paper tickets are still the norm for international travel right now, we believe they will be a thing of the past by 2006," said Ms O'Brien.
Top five expectations of an online travel website (in order of importance):
1. Great deals and offers
2. Secure online payment
3. One stop shop for all travel needs
4. Help at hand (customer care)
5. Trusted, reputable company
Top 10 international destinations for Australians during Q2 2004:
1. Auckland
2. London
3. Bangkok
4. Singapore
5. Los Angeles
6. Kuala Lumpur
7. Hong Kong
8. Manila
9. Wellington
10. Bali
* ZUJI Online Travel Forum Attendees:
Peter Coroneos, Chairman, Internet Industry Association of Australia
Jo O'Brien, General Manager, ZUJI Australia
Hans Belle, Vice President Marketing Asia Pacific, Sabre Holdings
Gregg Rowley, Managing Director, VeriSign
Martin Hoffman, CEO, Ninemsn
Markus Von Der Luehe, Senior Analyst, Nielsen//Netratings
The full ZUJI Online Travel Report Q2 2004, and Nielsen//Netratings research are both available on request as PDF documents.
ZUJI released its second quarterly ZUJI Online Travel Report, offering insights into consumer demographic and booking trends across the Asia Pacific region. The Report was launched at a Forum in Sydney attended by e-business leaders*, discussing major e-commerce trends and the current drivers behind the success of online travel in Australia.
The Online Travel Report found that Australians are the most confident online travellers in the region, with 88 percent completing their transactions online - compared with only 80 percent for the entire Asia Pacific - and 99 percent of Australians paying by credit card.
According to industry analysts Marketshare, the online travel market in Asia Pacific will grow from US$8 billion in 2003 to US$16 billion in 2006, with Australia the second largest market in the region. Supporting these figures, ZUJI has achieved average growth in bookings of 64 percent every quarter since January 2003 until June 2004. ZUJI has almost a million members across Asia Pacific, including 229,000 in Australia.
In the past two years, online travel in Australia has grown by 28.8 percent, according to Nielsen//Netratings, the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis. "In June 2004 alone, nearly 4 million Australians visited an online travel site," said Markus von der Luehe, Senior Analyst for Nielsen//Netratings. "That means that 44 percent of the total active online population in Australia visit a site every month for travel information or to book their next holiday."
Other key findings of the ZUJI Online Travel Report were that more than two-thirds of all online travel consumers in Australia take between two and four trips each year, and 10 percent take more than five trips. Shorter lead times are common with 32 percent of travellers book their flights within two weeks of travel, and 72 percent take trips of less than seven days.
According to Jo O'Brien, General Manager for ZUJI Australia, these statistics are indicative of a growing trend towards more frequent and spontaneous travel in Australia. "The growth of low cost carriers in Australia, and the general availability of extremely good deals has made travel a lot more affordable for everyday Australians. The strong Australian dollar and general stability around the region means that people are more enthusiastic and confident to travel than they have been for years."
The Online Travel Report found that online travel consumers are spread fairly evenly over most household income brackets, however high income earners make up the largest group, with 39 percent of households having an annual income of AU$75,000 or more.
The report also found that online travel is still very popular with singles and couples, with 90 percent of all bookings for just one or two people in the second quarter.
Ms O'Brien commented that the biggest growth for ZUJI in the second quarter was from hotel and accommodation. "We have witnessed more than 150 percent growth in hotel bookings since the beginning of the year, and we expect this growth to continue into 2005. What is interesting is that many Australians prefer the option of booking their accommodation further out, with only 54 percent of hotel rooms booked within three weeks of travel. Clearly the distressed inventory model does not suit a lot of Australian travellers who need more choice and flexibility."
Nearly all customers were comfortable with travelling domestically using electronic tickets (97 percent), while a much smaller number used electronic tickets for international travel. "While paper tickets are still the norm for international travel right now, we believe they will be a thing of the past by 2006," said Ms O'Brien.
Top five expectations of an online travel website (in order of importance):
1. Great deals and offers
2. Secure online payment
3. One stop shop for all travel needs
4. Help at hand (customer care)
5. Trusted, reputable company
Top 10 international destinations for Australians during Q2 2004:
1. Auckland
2. London
3. Bangkok
4. Singapore
5. Los Angeles
6. Kuala Lumpur
7. Hong Kong
8. Manila
9. Wellington
10. Bali
* ZUJI Online Travel Forum Attendees:
Peter Coroneos, Chairman, Internet Industry Association of Australia
Jo O'Brien, General Manager, ZUJI Australia
Hans Belle, Vice President Marketing Asia Pacific, Sabre Holdings
Gregg Rowley, Managing Director, VeriSign
Martin Hoffman, CEO, Ninemsn
Markus Von Der Luehe, Senior Analyst, Nielsen//Netratings
The full ZUJI Online Travel Report Q2 2004, and Nielsen//Netratings research are both available on request as PDF documents.
