New research suggests travellers from New Zealand are less concerned with the environmental impact of their travel compared to those from many other nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
The findings have been released amid a tough economy that is restricting discretionary spending, with the rising cost of living, travel expenses and interest rates cited as the biggest considerations impacting Kiwis' travel decisions this year.
A higher proportion of participants from India, Vietnam, China, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia prioritise sustainable travel options when compared to those from New Zealand. The only countries in the study to prioritise sustainability lower than Aotearoa were Singapore and Japan.
Only 18 percent of New Zealand respondents said they were willing to pay more for sustainable accommodation.
The Booking.com study of Asian and Pacific (APAC) countries found 37 percent of Kiwis look to stay with family and friends while travelling rather than pay for accommodation - a higher proportion than any other country.
Additionally, 59 percent of the New Zealanders surveyed would like to travel more, which is also a higher proportion than any other country in the research. The average was 36 percent.
The Booking.com APAC Travel Confidence Index 2023 surveyed 8800 travellers - 800 per country from 11 nations across the Asia Pacific region, between April and May 2023.
Its findings showed New Zealaners are also cutting travel costs by choosing budget-friendly accommodations (42 percent), travelling during off-peak times (39 percent) and practising mindful spending (40 percent).
"In the face of economic uncertainty, it's refreshing to see Kiwis' adventurous spirit lives on in their healthy appetite for continuing to explore their own backyard, as well as the world beyond our borders," said Todd Lacey, Oceania regional manager at Booking.com.
"It's clear that travel will continue to be a priority for Kiwi travellers who are thinking smartly about how they prioritise their spend so they don't miss out on experiences. Despite being one of the last countries to return to travel in 2022, insights from this year's Travel Confidence index reassuringly proves that New Zealand is well on its way to reclaiming its position as a world leading tourism destination."
