Australia Tops Holiday Destinations for Kiwis in Year Ahead

Australia Tops Holiday Destinations for Kiwis in Year Ahead

More New Zealanders opting for holidays in Australia and Asia Pacific region

Auckland, November 11, 2014 – With the Christmas holidays almost here, new research from MasterCard has found that Kiwis are most likely to opt for a trip over the ditch to Australia in the year ahead, with a growing number setting their sights on Asia-Pacific for their destination of choice.

According to the latest MasterCard Consumer Pulse survey, Australia continues to be first pick for Kiwis looking to holiday overseas, with 65% of those surveyed intending to head over the Tasman on their next trip – up 7% from last year. The USA is the second most popular holiday destination at 36%, followed by the UK (26%) and Canada (24%).

Holiday travel within the Asia-Pacific region continues to grow in popularity, with Hong Kong (19%) and Thailand (17%) each up 4% on last year, and China (15%) and Singapore (13%) also ranking among the top 10 most popular holiday destinations for the year ahead.

“With travel top of mind as the Christmas holiday period approaches, travel within Asia Pacific is an enticing option for many Kiwis looking to get the best bang for their buck on their trip away,” says MasterCard country manager Peter Chisnall.

“Whether they’re looking to visit family, do some sight-seeing, or just escaping for some well-deserved R&R - cheaper travel costs, shorter travel times, and a strong New Zealand dollar make Australia and destinations in Asia Pacific more attractive than ever as holiday destinations.

The biannual survey found that Kiwis travelling over the past year spent an average of $3,997 per trip overseas, with more than half reporting that their travel plans were influenced by exchange rates at the time.

“Travel costs often eat up a significant proportion of our holiday budgets, so Kiwis are thinking carefully about how they can get the most of their budgets once they arrive. With the growing popularity of travel card products like the Multi-Currency Cash Passport, New Zealanders are able to lock in exchange rates before they depart - ensuring that they’re getting the most out of their money for the places they’re visiting.” says MasterCard New Zealand Country Manager Peter Chisnall.

While many Kiwis have their eyes set on foreign shores for their next holidays, the survey suggests we’re no slouches when it comes to exploring closer to home. Domestic travel was up 6% from last year, with nearly three quarters (71%) of New Zealanders travelling within the country on holidays, spending an average of $733 per trip.

Top 10 intended holiday destinations for 2015

Top Tips for Stress-free Travel
No matter where you’re heading these holidays, your finances are the last thing you want to be worrying about when you should be putting your feet up.

Whether it’s across the ditch, or somewhere further afield, a bit of planning around your finances can make a world of difference in keeping your next trip stress-free.

Before you head out the door these holidays, take a look at these quick tips from MasterCard.

1. Purchase Travel Insurance – and keep in mind that some credit cards entitle cardholders to free travel insurance if you purchase your flights or a certain percentage of your holiday package with your card. Check with your bank to see what benefits the card you have offers.

2. Make a photocopy of the front of your credit, debit and prepaid card(s) – and leave these with a friend or family member before you go away. You may also want to store a scan of your cards in a personal email. That way, you will have access to the card numbers and details required if they need to be reported lost or stolen. With Zero Liability from MasterCard, cardholders are covered for unauthorised transactions. Just remember not to provide your PIN number to anyone else, or store it online.

3. Bring travel documents and proof of vaccinations – Ensure you bring these documents with you, make copies and leave them with a friend or family member as well as storing scanned copies in your email account. Some countries will request proof of vaccination before entering. Don’t ruin your holiday at border patrol – ensure you have all the details you need.

4. Explore prepaid card options – Multi-currency travel cards are an easy option when travelling abroad to help manage your finances. Offering the ability to lock in exchange rates, they work like your usual debit or ATM card when you are shopping overseas with no overdraft facility. You can check your card balance, get statements, find ATM location information and reload currency. A convenient way to travel stress-free.

During your holiday

5. Hang on to your receipts – It’s important to keep your receipts from any purchases you make on your credit card, so that you can cancel a payment or get reimbursed if there is a problem, as long as you have kept the appropriate documentation.

6. Always pay in local currency – When you are asked if you would want to make a payment in the local currency or in your home currency, always choose local currency as the bank’s exchange rate is more favourable to your wallet than the rate offered by the merchant.

7. Understand what protection you have – There is a good chance that if you use a credit card, you will be protected by Purchase Assurance, which covers against theft or damage of new purchases for a full 90 days. Check with your bank to see what benefits the card you have offers.

8. Keep track of your spending – Paying with a credit card in countries where you can’t read the language is a good way of keeping track of transactions and spending. Upon receiving the receipt, write the amount of the transaction, items purchased, date and place of purchase so you can match these details against your statement at the end of the month.

9. Report Lost or stolen cards immediately – It’s also a good idea to carry more than one card and storing them separately, so just in case your wallet or luggage goes astray, you’ll be able to use your ‘back-up’ card in case of emergency. MasterCard Global Service team is available around the clock. For information on which numbers to call depending on the country, go towww.mastercard.com, and look under Emergency Services.

About MasterCard MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews,@MasterCardNZ, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

ENDS

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