International Holidays 33 Percent More Expensive Than Pre-COVID

Travelling overseas is significantly more expensive than before the pandemic, and the cost has risen at a much faster rate than domestic travel. New Finder research shows domestic holidays are 19 percent more expensive than pre-COVID, while international holidays now cost 33 percent more.

Australians are spending an average of $6,765 on international trips, according to Finder. Accommodation is the most expensive component at $2,343 on average, closely followed by flights at $2,153. Finder’s travel expert, Angus Kidman said higher demand had pushed prices up. “International travel has become more costly as pent-up demand and the peak European summer season coincide.” Other factors that have made international travel more expensive in 2023 include higher jet fuel prices, staff shortages at airlines and airports, worldwide inflation and airlines being slow to return all their planes to the sky following their fleets’ grounding during COVID-19.

But higher costs have not deterred people from heading abroad. Australians are making up for lost time, with ‘COVID revenge travel’ prompting many to head overseas this year. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, leisure dominated overseas travel intentions in FY23, with 53 percent of travellers going overseas for a holiday, 32 percent travelling to visit friends and family and only 6 percent heading overseas on business.

Government forecasts show Aussies will keep travelling overseas in 2024 despite the significantly higher costs, and demand is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of the new year. However, there are signs that the cost-of-living crisis is starting to bite, and 2024 may the last big year of revenge travel before Australians tighten their belts. According to the Tourism Forecasts for Australia 2023 to 2028 report: “In 2023, 9.8 million resident returns are expected, which would be 86 percent of the pre-pandemic level. This increases to 11.3 million resident returns in 2024, which is nearing parity with the number of resident returns in 2019. Looking forward, cost-of-living and budget pressures in Australia are expected to weigh on outbound travel growth. Compared to last year’s forecasts, the profile for outbound growth is very similar. However, high global travel costs and reduced household savings in Australia have had a mild dampening effect.”

Finder says 54 percent of Australians intend to travel in the new year, with 15 percent heading overseas, 14 per cent intending to travel both overseas and domestically, and 25 percent planning to holiday only in Australia. Online travel agent KAYAK says searches for 2024 flights are up dramatically. “As Aussies, travel is in our DNA and despite macroeconomic uncertainties it looks like many Aussies are still struck by the travel bug, with searches for flights to both international and domestic destinations up 47 percent for travel over the next 12 months compared to last year,” said brand director Nicola Carmichael.

Top 10 overseas destinations for Australians in 2023

Indonesia
United States
United Kingdom
Italy
Thailand
France
New Zealand
Japan
Singapore
Vietnam

Source: Finder Travel Inflation Report

Australian furniture brand King Living has expanded its Aura Collection with the launch of a new modular sofa designed to blend contemporary aesthetics with adaptable living.

The Aura Sofa builds on the success of the Aura Island range, first introduced in 2023, which included indoor and outdoor sofas as well as fixed and swivel occasional chairs.

The latest evolution introduces modular functionality to the collection, allowing homeowners to configure the sofa to suit a variety of spaces and uses.

As living spaces continue to evolve, particularly in urban environments where flexibility is increasingly valued, furniture designers are placing greater emphasis on products that can adapt over time.

King Living says the new Aura Sofa has been developed with this trend in mind, enabling customers to create corner, L-shaped or U-shaped layouts, while also allowing additional modules to be added as needs change.

King Living founder David King said the original Aura concept began as an exploration of sculptural design before being reimagined as a modular system.

“Aura began as an exploration of sculptural form. Now, we’ve brought modularity into that design language, giving the freedom to reimagine your space with a modular design made for flexibility,” he said.

The collection’s defining feature remains its soft, flowing silhouette, with curved forms replacing traditional angular sofa designs.

The company describes the sofa as a response to changing lifestyles, where living rooms increasingly serve multiple purposes, from entertaining guests and family gatherings to quiet reading corners and work-from-home spaces.

Its rounded profile and minimalist aesthetic are intended to enhance the flow of contemporary interiors while maximising available space. According to the company, the design is equally suited to compact apartments and larger open-plan homes.

“Today, living space is both a luxury and a constraint. Aura is our response, a purposeful design that proves when intention and fluidity converge, the result can feel both expansive and refined,” King said.

Beyond aesthetics, the new sofa incorporates several engineering features synonymous with the King Living brand.

These include the company’s Postureflex steel suspension system, extra-high pocket springs and its signature steel frame, which is backed by a 25-year warranty. The company says the design has been engineered to deliver long-term comfort and durability.

Sustainability has also been a focus of the design. Each module features a removable cover that can be professionally cleaned, repaired or replaced individually, reducing the need to replace an entire sofa and potentially extending the product’s lifespan.

The Aura Sofa is available made to order in a range of premium fabrics and European leathers, allowing customers to tailor the piece to different interior styles and colour palettes.

Designed, manufactured and sold exclusively by King Living, the Aura Sofa launched in showrooms and online early this month, marking the latest addition to the Australian company’s growing portfolio of modular furniture designs.

International Holidays 33 Percent More Expensive Than Pre-COVID

But higher costs are not dampening Australians’ desire to travel abroad

Top 10 overseas destinations for Australians in 2023

King Living has unveiled a modular version of its Aura Sofa, bringing greater flexibility to the sculptural design collection as demand grows for furniture that can adapt to changing lifestyles.