With 2014 coming to a close, Viator.com is taking a retrospective glance at what excited Aussie travellers throughout the year.
Tokyo was a hit with Australians this year, with an increase of over 140% year on year for tours and attraction bookings on Viator.
In particular, new and quirky tours such as the Tokyo Robot Evening Cabaret Show are proving to be popular, with Viator urging customers to book well in advance as these unique activities are likely to sell out.
Options that immerse travellers in the Japanese culture, tradition and natural beauty, such as food tours and day trips to Mt Fuji packaged with an onsen experience, are also top sellers.
Aussies were also flocking to Dubai this year, with tour and attractions booked through Viator up nearly 75% year on year.
This is a good indicator of more Aussies taking advantage of the additional flight routes connecting Dubai to down under.
“People also seemed to really like Viator’s Super Saver options which combine two popular tours into one discounted package,” Viator’s vice president of marketing Kelly Gillease said, citing the 45% jump in sales of the Dubai City Sightseeing Tour and Desert Safari combo as an example.
But Aussies are also venturing further into their own backyard, with more travellers getting adventurous and booking trips to the Northern Territory to visit Uluru and Darwin, both of which are up 125% and 85% respectively.
“We have also noticed Australians, as increasingly experienced cruisers, are booking more shore excursions with Viator,”Gillease said.
“We’ve seen a rise of more than 50% YOY on these bookings, which shows that cruisers are looking for more excursions and more value while on the high seas.”
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), latest figures show Australia is the fastest growing major passenger source market with Australian cruisers rising by 20% in 2013 to reach 888,348.
Uluru, Australian Outback
Mt Fuji, Onsen, Japan
Dubai
