Kiwi travellers are increasingly picking destinations based on favourable exchange rates, say local travel chains.
The pattern reflects a global trend reported in the latest Mastercard Travel Trendline survey, where 85% of respondents globally said the exchange rate can decide where they will travel internationally.
House of Travel ceo Dave Coombes says how far the client’s dollar will go is a big consideration of their booking. Japan has been one of HoT’s fastest growing destinations, he adds, with Vietnam up 19% year-on year for the majority of Q1 for HoT.
He says the bulk of this growth is in economy and premium economy, which shows families and mid-market travellers are leading the favourable exchange-rate trend. South Africa demand is also said to be driven by a favourable exchange rate, and HoT’s Tanya Aitken says Cape Town is ‘more popular than ever’. Asia, too, is benefiting from a more favourable NZD exchange rate. Helloworld says the group has seen noticeable uplift in bookings and enquiries to Asia, with destinations such as Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand performing well.
. . . Oceania
Wanderlust’s Cath McLeod says Australia has become popular as a close-to-home option despite a higher-than-normal exchange rate. But at the same time, she says sales to the US are down due to the exchange rate.
Flight Centre New Zealand echoes the regional demand trend. The company’s gm Heidi Walker says Australia and the Pacific Islands have been prime destinations, as both are closer-to-home options where the NZD stretches further. “Cost-of-living pressures have made value a priority,” she adds.
