Jittery jet-setters: Half of Aussies reluctant to travel
Millions of Australians have concerns about travelling abroad, according to new research by Finder.
A Finder survey of 1,062 respondents found 1 in 2 (49%) Australians are reluctant to head overseas for a raft of reasons.
The research found 1 in 4 (26%) grapple with the fear of something going wrong in a foreign country, while almost 1 in 5 (17%) admit they avoid jetting off so they don't have to be away from their beloved pets.
That's 3.5 million people who would consider staying at home with their four-legged friend instead of vacationing overseas.
Women (20%) are much more likely than men (13%) to be grounded by concerns over leaving their pet.
Tim Bennett, insurance expert at Finder, said general anxiety around travelling is common.
"Being outside familiar surroundings can cause a lot of stress for people – and in some cases it's not worth the hassle for them.
"However, nervous travellers may have regrets later in life if they don't confront their fears."
The headache of travel-related admin (15%), fear of having their home broken into during their absence (12%) and missing friends and family (11%) were other common concerns.
The research revealed a fear of being locked out of Australia due to visa issues (8%) and being away from a family member or friend in their care (7%) affect a significant number of respondents.
Over a third (38%) of Aussies say nothing puts them off travelling abroad.
Bennett said there are still plenty of Australians who can't wait to jet off.
"For many people, the risks and inconveniences are just part and parcel of holidaying and don't let this stop them.
"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.
"It's important not to skimp on travel insurance – the last thing you need is to have a claim knocked back."
Bennett said updating your home & contents insurance policy can also help keep your home safe while you're overseas.
"Combine that with inexpensive security cameras like Google Nest and you'll go a long way to keeping your home secure.
"The most important thing is that you can stop worrying and enjoy your holiday."
| Putting aside cost and time, which of the following puts 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 (being homesick) | 11% |
| Fear of being locked outside of Australia (e.g. Visa/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 survey of 1,062 respondents, March 2024 | |
| *Respondents could select up to 3 responses. |
Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 1,062 respondents from March 2024.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics, an SAP company.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Learn more about what you're covered for with travel insurance here.