Self-drive travellers dependent on recommendations

Self-drive travellers tend to rely more on word-of-mouth and internet referrals to base their holidays on, finds a new study.

Characteristics of Touring Holiday-Makers in Australia report from Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) found that 70% of those surveyed had taken a self-drive touring holiday in the past five years, and nearly all expecting to take another.

“This report contains valuable information for motoring organisations and tourism destinations around Australia who depend on self-drive visitors,” said Ian Kean, CEO of STCRC.

“Motoring holidays have long been the back-bone of domestic tourism, and this research reinforces the current and future importance of the freedom and flexibility of this mode of travel to Australians.”

The survey looked at 430 Australian travellers and their habits, and 87% of travellers admitted to using the internet as a source of information to base the plans for their holiday.  In second at 64% was traditional word of mouth – and it was considered the most reliable and believable.

According to age groups, self-drive touring was the most popular with those aged 31-45, at 31%, and then the 46-65 age group, just under 31%.  Just over twenty percent of those surveyed were 18 to 30 years old with the over 65's representing 18 percent of the survey group.

Half of the self-drive trips fell in the four to seven night category, while only a quarter of self-drive trips saw a caravan towed along the back.

A free copy of the report can be downloaded at http://www.crctourism.com.au/BookShop/BookDetail.aspx?d=564.