SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL SHIFT AS AUSSIES DODGE CROWDS AND CLIMATE RISKS

Australians are quietly rewriting the rules of travel, moving away from peak-season getaways and crowded hotspots as climate concerns and changing habits reshape the industry, new research from Booking.com shows.

The 2026 Travel & Sustainability Report reveals that timing and destination are now central to how Australians approach travel, with 42 per cent planning to holiday outside peak periods and 43 per cent actively avoiding overcrowded destinations.

This is not just about comfort. It reflects a broader shift in thinking, where travellers are increasingly aware of their impact on places they visit, with many deliberately trying to reduce pressure on popular destinations.

At the same time, climate is no longer a background consideration. It is shaping decisions in a far more immediate way. Nearly three-quarters of Australians now factor extreme weather into where and when they travel, while more than a quarter have already changed or cancelled trips in the past year due to weather events.

There is also a growing sense that some destinations are becoming less viable altogether. More than half of Australians say certain locations have become too hot to visit at their preferred time of year.

A generational split is emerging

While sustainability is now firmly on the agenda, the report highlights a gap between what travellers say and what they actually do.

Younger Australians tend to express stronger views about sustainable travel, yet it is older travellers who are more likely to follow through with practical actions such as reducing waste, cutting energy use and shopping locally.

That does not mean younger travellers are disengaged. They are more likely to participate in cultural experiences and conservation-focused activities, pointing to a different interpretation of what sustainable travel looks like.

From intention to behaviour

The shift is already playing out in booking patterns. Across the region, more travellers are choosing accommodation with recognised sustainability credentials, and sustainable travel is moving from a niche consideration to a mainstream expectation.

Yet barriers remain. Cost, confusion and a lack of clear information continue to hold some travellers back from making more sustainable choices, suggesting the industry still has work to do in making those options accessible and easy to understand.

For now, the direction is clear. Travel is becoming less about ticking off destinations at peak moments and more about timing, impact and experience.

Or, put more simply, Australians are still travelling, just a little more thoughtfully than before.