- Abrolhos Islands named best destination for off-the-grid, under-the-radar 
travel in 2021

- Domestic travel is booming as Skyscanner reveals flight searches reached 2019 
levels for the first time since the pandemic began in December 

- Travel experts say there are few places with more unique landscapes & 
fascinating wildlife than the WA's Coral Coast region, including Kalbarri 
National Park & Hutt Lagoon (Pink lake) 

Skyscanner, one of the world's leading travel companies, has named the Abrolhos 
Islands National Park among its best destinations for 2021 for off-the-grid, 
under-the-radar travel.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/561502/Skyscanner_Logo.jpg 

With access to a unique set of data and insights, Skyscanner's 2021 Top 
Destinations & Travel Trends list ( 
https://www.skyscanner.com.au/media/travel-in-2021-our-top-trends-and-destinations 
) was curated using extensive traveller data and insights from expert travel 
commentators, including predictions on the soon-to-be trending destinations.

Perth is currently the top trending destination for travel in the new year on 
skyscanner.com.au, with searches increasing 39% week on week. Interest in car 
hire has also increased (48%) over the past two weeks since state borders began 
to ease. 

Travel experts predict 'Fly & Drive' trips from Perth to discover the Coral 
Coast are tipped to be a sought-after holiday for early 2021 with unique 
destinations like the Abrolhos Islands catching travellers' attention.[1]

Skyscanner's list also features Japan, South Korea and Greece as some of the 
international destinations expected to bounce back in popularity for Australian 
travellers, as soon as it's safe and possible to travel there, based on flight 
price analysis as well as recovery rates.

Paul Whiteway, Senior Director for APAC at Skyscanner comments: 

"A mid-ocean archipelago might seem to be taking social distancing to a new 
extreme, but the Abrolhos islands are an excellent destination for travellers 
looking for an undiscovered, off-the-grid travel experience. With international 
travel is still off the cards for Australians, many travellers are looking to 
scratch that overseas travel itch and discover new spots closer to home. As a 
result, we've seen domestic flights searches boom as Australians begin to 
discover their own country. While bucket lists have been reordered to 
prioritise spots like Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef, there are plenty of 
less famous destinations that are just as bucket list worthy. Skyscanner hopes 
that travellers will be inspired to start thinking about future journeys and 
will be reminded of why we love to travel." 

Skyscanner said that at the beginning of December, for the first time since the 
pandemic began, Australian flight searches reached pre-pandemic 2019 levels. 
And with recent news of the vaccine turning many Australian traveller's hopes 
to international travel for next year, Skyscanner witnessed a 32% increase in 
international searches for 2021 travel from April.[2] 

Skyscanner also surveyed travellers to find out about their aspirations for 
travel in 2021. When asked what type of trip they were planning to take over 
half (54%) said they hope to take a long-haul trip as their main holiday in 
2021: 

   -- 49% said they were planning to spend more money on their next overseas
      trip than they did before the pandemic. 
   -- 36% of travellers said being reunited with family and friends was the
      main reason for travelling again.

Skyscanner's Top 2021 Travel Trends & Destinations are: 

   -- Zooming out – As the world looks to embrace a world beyond the screen,
      these notification- free nature spots provide the ultimate escape -
      Atacama Desert Chile, Coral Coast Australia, Scottish Highlands.
   -- Sporting Heroes – Japan, South Africa - Almost a year of empty stadiums
      has led the world to crave the buzz of stadia, couple that with two of
      the world's biggest destinations hosting major sporting occasions those
      considering an atmospheric adventure will look to the land of the rising
      sun for an excursion of Olympic proportions. 
   -- Recovery Bubbles' - South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam - Locations that
      responded quickly to the virus, maintaining domestic travel ensures their
      tourism infrastructure thrives, South Korea's once up and coming
      international travel scene is expected to bounce back with aplomb. 
   -- Greece is the word - Whitewashed vistas with deep blue Aegean waters
      flooded most social media feeds in 2020, Greece firmly placed itself top
      of almost everyone's travel wish lists. 
   -- Swell times ahead - Surfing cruises its way into the Olympics for the
      first time ever in 2021, with the world embracing outdoor pursuits of the
      socially distanced variety, California tops the list for swapping sofa
      surfing for the waves! 
   -- Don't forget the classics - 2020 highlighted the resilient popularity of
      some mainstay destinations that are likely to bounce back the moment
      their fans can return – New York & The Balearics top the charts. 
   -- WFP: Working from Paradise - There's no question the 2020 office looked a
      little different this but The Maldives, The Caribbean & Mexico look set
      to host the ultimate 2021 office upgrade. 
   -- Regenerative Travel - As many consider how their return to travel impacts
      those communities and ecosystems that rely on travellers Costa Rica,
      Jamaica & The Azores are leading the way when it comes to conscious
      travel. 

Notes to Editors

1. Searches on skyscanner.com.au for flights and car hire between 21/11/20 - 
12/12/20 for travel from January 2021.  

2. All searches for economy, return flights on skyscanner.com.au between 
09/11/20 - 23/11/20 or travel from April 2021. 

3. Skyscanner survey of Australian travellers 23/11/20 (527)

SOURCE: Skyscanner