Have Fun In 2010

Where will we go, what will we do and how much will we spend in 2010? Jane E. Fraser consults the crystal ball to discover the trends ahead.

Australian travellers will flood overseas destinations this year, driven by a powerful combination of affordable prices and pent-up demand. Cheap air fares, a strong Australian dollar and greater consumer confidence are expected to lead to a surge in international trips.

"There's no doubt that many are getting itchy feet to take off and explore the world after staying home last year," says a spokesman for Escape Travel, Colin Bowman.

"As conditions have started to improve, there's been an increase in interest in long-haul travel."

The managing director of Harvey World Travel, David Rivers, says forward bookings show Europe is "back" and the US is "a boomer", thanks to the strong Australian dollar and competition between airlines.

The executive director of the Tourism and Transport Forum, Brett Gale, says the trend to international travel is likely to continue for the next decade, with fewer people holidaying at home.

Overseas destinations

Lonely Planet's top 10 places include El Salvador in Central America, for hiking, surfing and low tourist numbers, and the Dutch-speaking Suriname in northern South America - the smallest country on that continent - for its cultural diversity and natural riches, including underwater wonders.

On the more traditional front, the US is "cool again" thanks to President Barack Obama, Morocco makes the list for its combination of "glam and grit" and Nepal is expected to be in demand now that peace has returned.

Interest in Germany is expected to be high, 20 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, while Greece makes the cut for having "something for everyone" - from ruins to idyllic beaches - and Portugal is expected to draw in travellers as it experiences a "new wave" of modernity amid tradition. Closer to home, New Zealand and Malaysia round out the top 10 due to their natural beauty and diversity of experiences.

The US (particularly New York and Las Vegas) also makes the cut for Flight Centre's top 10 destinations, along with Vancouver in Canada, with the city hosting the Winter Olympic Games next month.

Botswana's plush tented camps are predicted to be in favour with the glamping (glamour camping) market, while Mexican and Caribbean beaches are back in fashion and luxury river cruising is expected to draw visitors to Vietnam.

Flight Centre joins Lonely Planet in including Greece (particularly Santorini and Mykonos) in its top 10, along with Malaysia (especially for shopping in Kuala Lumpur).

Rounding out Flight Centre's top 10 are Cadaques in northern Spain, "for a coastal yet cultural escape"; Provence in France for activity-based holidays such as cooking and art classes; and cruises from Australia.

Intrepid Travel is banking on interest in East Timor, with a new trip this year. The company says East Timor is "virtually untouched" by tourism and offers a combination of lush rainforest, traditional villages and Portuguese and Indonesian influences.

Transglobal Destinations says Turkey is emerging as a cheaper alternative to France, Spain and Italy, while World Expeditions says demand for off-the-beaten-track destinations such as Madagascar, Syria and Ethiopia has risen as confidence has returned.

Australian destinations

AOT Holidays, Australia's largest wholesaler of domestic holidays, says the Gold Coast will retain pole position this year, due to its ability to cater for all budgets and ages. Queensland islands are expected to be in second place, thanks to deals such as free nights and children-stay-free, while Tasmania is in third spot thanks to more fly-drive packages coming on to the market.

More-competitive accommodation and touring rates, along with improved flight access, is generating demand for Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania, with the Margaret River region, Kangaroo Island and Broome particularly attractive.

Luxury travel specialist Travel Associates says more than 40 per cent of its forward domestic bookings are for Queensland island getaways, typically for three to four nights.

How we'll book

The general manager of Zuji Australia, Peter Smith, says figures collated by research agency PhoCusWright show the move to online bookings will speed up. While the overall market (leisure travel and independently booked business travel) is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year and by 9 per cent next year, online booking and sales growth is expected to be almost 20 per cent each year.

"In 2008, online share was 26 per cent; this is due to rise to 41 per cent by 2011," Smith says.

Webjet.com, a flight booking provider, is banking on healthy growth this year after reporting its October bookings were up 50 per cent on the previous year. Also expecting to see continued growth is online auction site ubid4rooms.com, which allows travellers to bargain direct with hotels by stating what a guest is willing to pay. The rapidly growing site, which features about 800 accommodation options, recently expanded to include houseboats and motor homes and has indicated flights and cruises are on its radar.

What we'll book

Travel agencies are reporting a trend to small-group tours and personally escorted tours as travellers seek more authentic experiences while not wanting to give up the convenience and safety of group touring.

A Travel Associates spokesperson says the company has experienced a 25 per cent increase in demand for small-group tours (up to nine people), as well as a 20 per cent increase in inquiries about women-only tours.

STA Travel, which caters for the youth market, says organised tours are "definitely cool again".

Travel Associates says food and wine tours and cooking schools are also in demand - up 35 per cent - thanks to television shows such as MasterChef.

Viator, an online tour booking service, says independent travellers are returning to traditional hop-on, hop-off tours, with bookings increasing 65 per cent over recent months, while cultural products such as museum tickets are up by more than 50 per cent and adrenalin-charged experiences have risen by more than 70 per cent.

Active holidays are expected to be popular this year, with UTracks reporting strong demand for its self-guided walking and cycling holidays and World Expeditions saying bookings for its Australian walking holidays are up by 25 per cent.

Travel.com.au says it is seeing demand for "shop-overs", with Australians stopping in Asia on their way home from Europe. It is also seeing demand for multi-generational family holidays.

Luxury walking tour operator bothfeet reports a 50 per cent increase in demand from families with teenagers, who are turning to activity-based trips rather than traditional touring.

Cruising is expected to continue its stellar growth, with Harvey World Travel's David Rivers saying voyages from Australian and Asian ports are particularly popular.

Specialist retailer Cruiseabout has noticed a trend to themed and special-interest cruises, from salsa dancing and Italian cooking to a cruise inspired by the Twilight vampire books and films.

The Tourism and Transport Forum's Brett Gale says he expects to see strong growth in nature-based tourism at both upmarket lodges and in the caravan and camping sector.

And STA Travel is predicting continued growth in "voluntourism", particularly short-term volunteer projects focused on community work.

How much we'll spend

Australians will have less disposable income, in real terms, than they had last year, according to a senior economist at ANZ, Julie Toth. While the dip is partly a statistical anomaly due to the effect of 2009's stimulus payments, factors such as weak jobs growth, inflation and high population growth will be at play.

"We're actually looking at quite a weak year for household disposable income," Toth says. "This is a delayed effect from the downturn ... people won't have any additional money."

However, Toth notes that spending on recreation remains in second place in Australia, behind outlays on a mortgage or rent but ahead of food.

"It's just a matter of how that [spending on recreation] is divided up," she says.

A demographer for KPMG, Bernard Salt, believes Australians will spend more on travel after staying close to home and choosing cheaper options last year.

"I think people will be bolder in terms of their travel aspirations," Salt says. "I think we'll see a greater confidence; there's a sense that we've escaped the worst of this [financial crisis].

"I think there will be a reasonable rebound ... as people enjoy a period of greater confidence and rising prosperity."

What we'll pay for

An aviation consultant for CAPA Consulting, Ian Thomas, expects continued restraint in the classes of travel people will book throughout the year. Premium economy will continue to grow at the expense of business class and low-cost carriers will continue to expand at the expense of full-service airlines.

"One of the biggest changes in the past year has been in premium travel - business-class travellers have moved down a notch and they don't seem to be moving back," Thomas says.

"People are looking for a fairly basic, comfortable product and they won't find it in economy but they might find it in premium economy."

When it comes to accommodation, research by online booking agency Wotif shows Australians are consistent in their standards, regardless of the economy.

A recent survey found 63 per cent of respondents budget for between $150 and $200 a night for accommodation, a figure consistent with previous years.

The general manager of Wotif, Megan Magill, says people tend to shorten their stay rather than lower their standards, with four-star accommodation and quality apartments remaining the most popular.

What we'll learn

Travellers accustomed to bargain-basement deals could be in for some shocks, with prices expected to steadily rise as conditions improve.

American Express is forecasting Australia will face some of the biggest increases in the world and industry leaders warn that the best deals may have been and gone.

"If demand continues to improve, it will inevitably become harder to get a bargain," says a spokeswoman for Flight Centre, Nicole Moy. "We will continue to see eye-catching special offers from time to time but the widespread discounting we saw last year is unlikely to be repeated."  

Editor: jimbon

Finally Yes,I can Do This

So this year I decided to reflect less on the changes I want to make and focus on changes I've succeeded in making in the past, in the hope that from this would come fresh impetus for change in the future. And what I have discovered is that the things that have given me the greatest sense of pride over the years are what I call my 'I Can Do This' moments.

The precise, revelatory moments when changes I felt I lacked the courage or ability to make were suddenly achieved, or at least embarked upon. We all have these moments. And it's not the size of the achievement that matters. The trick is to recognise what is significant for you, and try to hold on to the special glow of satisfaction it gives you.

Here are my top 'I can do this' moments...

I CAN TRAVEL ALONE

Other than for business reasons, when I had a full-time job, I'd never really travelled alone. It seemed a rather sad and lonely thing to do, to have a holiday completely solo.

But I needed a break after my separation from my husband, and none of my friends were free to accompany me. So I booked the Eurostar and a room in a small hotel. I studied a map and my guidebook, choosing museums, restaurants and flea markets I wanted to visit.

I arrived nervous but excited. As I checked into my attic room, with its creaky plumbing and views all the way to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, I thought: 'I CAN DO THIS!'

I CAN PUT TOGETHER FLAT-PACK FURNITURE

When the desk I'd bought as my son's Christmas present arrived from John Lewis, I'd been expecting it to come in pieces. But I'd been thinking more like five pieces, rather than 105.

I've never been into DIY. It had always been husband territory, as far as I was concerned.

I laid the bits out in front of me and felt ready to weep. But it had to be put together before my son arrived home for the holidays from his year of working abroad as part of his studies.

The instructions suggested it would take 45 minutes. I got down to work. Six hours and many tantrums later, it was finished. I punched the air and shouted: 'I CAN DO THIS!'

But as far as DIY is concerned, never, ever again.

I CAN SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN TUNE

I love to sing, but I hate the sound of my own voice. I come from a long line of people who can only sing out of tune, so I guess it must be genetic. Even Happy Birthday is beyond me.

Or at least it was before my singing teacher, Rachel, came into my life. I realised I didn't want to be on my death-bed regretting the fact I'd never learned to sing, so decided to invest in private singing lessons.

At first, I was so embarrassed all I could do was break into nervous laughter. But the fact I could hear my own voice was out of tune was a good sign, apparently.

Over the months I grew in confidence. Rachel decided I had a good ear and encouraged me into believing that, by practising the exercises she gave me, I could improve enormously.

Six months on, I was in the bath belting out Happy Birthday. And I thought: 'I CAN DO THIS!'

For the first time at midnight mass on Christmas Eve I sang rather than mimed. I still haven't been asked to join the choir, but at least I'm no longer frightened by the sound of my own voice.

That night, at a restaurant on the Left Bank, I met a fellow traveller, also on his own. We chatted for hours, then shook hands and went our own ways. This would never have happened if I'd been with a friend.

The next day, at lunch, I got chatting to an American woman and left with a list of new places to visit.

'We'll always have Paris,' said Rick in Casablanca. I'll always have Paris, I thought happily on my way back to London.

 I CAN GO TO A PARTY ON MY OWN

I know plenty of women who turn down invitations rather than walk alone into a room full of people, most of whom they don't know.

It's a ghastly feeling, standing by yourself, pretending to be fascinated by your cocktail, but even that's better than becoming a hermit.

When I was young, I had to go to receptions related to my work. It was easy because I was a pretty young thing and all I had to do was stand there and within moments some guy would come and start chatting to me.

These days I have to work a lot harder. If I know only the host I will ask him/her to introduce me to some people. If the host is too busy I look for someone else on their own and start a conversation.

If everyone's in huddles I'll suss a friendly-looking group, approach, and ask: 'Do you mind if I join you?' Only the rudest of people would say no, and so far it's never happened to me.

I CAN STRIP OFF IN FRONT OF A MAN

After a failed marriage and 25 years of fidelity, the one thing I was quite certain of when we separated was that I would never take my clothes off in front of another man.

My fifty-something body, I believed, just wasn't up to naked scrutiny. And if I couldn't take my clothes off, that meant sex was also off the agenda.

I've met dozens of older women who feel exactly the same way after the end of a long-term relationship.
I wasn't averse to dating, though. After a few not-so-hot dates with various men, I met a guy I really liked.

Please don't let him rush this, I thought, or I'll run a mile. Fortunately he didn't rush and I didn't run. We met a few times over a couple of months, not even a kiss was exchanged between us.

Then I went away for a few weeks. We emailed and I thought of him often. I came home. We met up again and spent the whole day walking in the country. When it happened that night it was all so simple.

'I CAN DO THIS!' I thought, with uninhibited joy. I finally remembered that sex is about how we connect, not what we look like.

I CAN CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

My approach to things that scare me, especially physical things, is to accept the challenge first, then worry about how I'm going to cope with it after.

This is how I, a virgin trekker, ended up heading to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

Once I'd signed up for the charity trek and collected my sponsorship money, there was no way I could back out. It's become such a cliche, that thing of climbing to the tallest peak, then bursting into tears at the wonder of it all.

The wonder of your surroundings, the wonder that you actually did it. But so what if it has become a bit cliche? The thrill of that 'I CAN DO THIS' will never fade away from my memory.

I CAN SHOW WEAKNESS

It took a massive nervous breakdown before I learned to accept my vulnerabilities and not be ashamed of them. I thought I could do it all.

Be a high-powered exec, a great mum, a loving wife, a perfect hostess. When depression kicked in, I thought I was a woman without worth. I thought I had no right to feel so bad when I had so much.

It took two years of pills, therapy and time out from work before I began to see that being strong and capable wasn't the answer. I gave up full-time work and went freelance.

On my first day of freedom I started out with a walk, then went to a cafe and leisurely read the papers. 'I CAN DO THIS,' I thought. I can earn less, spend less, enjoy life more and own up to not being superwoman.

I learned the hard way. The trick is to change direction without falling to pieces first. Listen to the voice in your head, rather than trying to live up to impossible standards.

I CAN LOVE AN ANIMAL

Until Cuba, my black labrador, came into my life, I would cross the road to avoid a dog coming towards me, even if it was on a lead. And if a dog jumped up at me in the park I would recoil in horror. But I love to go for long walks and, when I started working from home, began to notice what fun other walkers seemed to be having out on the heath with their dogs.

Then, through a friend, I learned that a dog belonging to a woman down the road had produced a litter of nine pups. Under pressure from my friend, I went to have a look at them. It wasn't love at first sight - cute though Cuba was - it was more a case of me deciding it was time to stop being such a wimp around animals.

I crouched down and Cuba leapt into my arms. The truth is, I didn't think about the responsibility, the expense, the fact both the dog and I would need to be trained.

I just thought: 'I CAN DO THIS!' Seven years on, I can't imagine my daily routine without Cuba, and these days I get along fine with most dogs. I became a dog owner for the wrong reason, but it turned out right.

Sometimes you need to forget logic and make a leap of faith.

I CAN SPEAK IN PUBLIC

When it came to question time in class at school, I would dread being chosen by the teacher and I certainly never once put up my hand to volunteer an answer.

If the teacher's beady eyes came to rest on me, my heart would race, my face turn bright red and I would stammer and squeak, to the amusement of my classmates.

Being the centre of attention, even for a moment, was my worst nightmare. When I was a journalist, in my 20s, I began, occasionally, to speak on the radio. I dreaded it every time.

Then, one day in my 30s, I was asked to give a speech to the Literacy Trust to an audience of perhaps 100 people. I prepared for a week. I learned the whole thing by heart.

I had prompt notes as well as the speech written out in front of me. I took a Valium.

And then I went for it. At one point, the audience burst into spontaneous laughter. This was the turning point when I thought: 'I CAN DO THIS!'

The fear of speaking in public has never gone away, but the knowledge that I can do it, and do it well, has encouraged me to take on the challenge whenever I'm asked.

But I would never attempt to do it off the cuff. Preparation is the key.

Editor: jimbon/Linda Kelsey