Adventure travel and risk is still part of the Australian spirit… Australians under 30 years like adventure and risk but many are under-prepared for it …
Nearly half (45%) of Australians said they are willing to take risks in pursuit of unique or memorable overseas travel experiences, says a 2025 travel survey. Almost all (90%) of the people surveyed found at least one risky experience appealing. Trying unfamiliar foods, venturing off the beaten path, or travelling without a fixed itinerary ranked high on the “risk appeal” list. Social media, such as travel vlogs, may be part of the reason. Over a third (36%) of travellers surveyed said they’ve seen risky destinations promoted positively online by influencers. Half of those under 30 years (50%) said travel influencers made risky travel destinations sound highly appealing. For some, danger is part of the allure: a quarter (25%) admitted they find higher-risk destinations appealing precisely because they feel risky. Males (48%) were more willing to take risks than women (43%) as were those born in Australia (50%) compared with 32% of respondents born overseas. Adventure over preparedness is still the trend for young Australians under 30 years. Younger travellers are more likely than older travellers to travel uninsured, engage in risky actions, and overlook the government’s critical travel advice. The June 2025 online survey of 1,001 Australians who had travelled overseas in 2024 asked respondents to comment on their international travel experience and sentiments, travel insurance, and the extent they heeded the government’s travel advice. The respondents said that Australia’s official government travel advice service, Smartraveller, is one of the most trusted sources of information for those who use it. Nearly half of all travellers (48%) visited the site before their last trip, and 88% of those aware of it said its advice influenced where they went – but less so for young travellers. Although 64% of travellers under 30 years were aware of the Smartraveller website, only 37% reviewed destination-specific travel advice before their last trip. Young travellers were more likely to be influenced by social media than by the government’s travel advice. Almost half (43%) of respondents visited a destination they perceived to be risky. Five percent of them travelled to a destination they would describe as very risky. Not only did they visit risky destinations, the under 30s undertook risky actions in risky and non-risky destinations. For example, while 83% of all Australian travellers were aware of methanol poisoning, 30% of young travellers who drank alcohol on their trip consumed drinks with unfamiliar labels and 17% drank from shared jugs or buckets. The survey highlighted a paradox of today’s travel: Australians are more aware of global risks than ever, yet still under-prepared for them. Despite being more likely to travel to a risky destination, 58% of young travellers were not aware that they may not be covered by travel insurance if travelling to “Do Not Travel” destinations, and 29% said they “might still go anyway.” Also, 23% of young travellers went overseas without any travel insurance for medical emergencies, natural disasters, or travel cancellations. Most travellers didn’t reject insurance out of defiance, but out of a mix of assumptions. Overall, all ages said that they were travelling somewhere “safe” and didn’t need it (31%), it wasn’t good value for money (27%), or didn’t think of it (24%). Women were more likely to say they “didn’t even think about it,” while younger travellers were likely to cite affordability. The survey found that the current global political environment impacted the way Australians travel. Over half (56%) of all travellers surveyed, of all ages, agreed that the current global political environment meant that there are countries they had planned to visit but they will now avoid. Around half (53%) felt less comfortable travelling overseas, while 41% said it made them less likely to travel overseas altogether, preferring to travel locally within Australia instead. In response to the survey, the Smartraveller service suggested that if DFAT says “Do Not Travel,” your insurer probably agrees. Source: Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) & Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Travel Insurance Survey 2025, June 2025. (Number of people surveyed: 1,001 Australians who travelled overseas in 2024) Can’t see the whole article? Want to view the original article? Want to view more articles? Go to Martina’s Substack: The Stories in You and Me More Paris articles are in my Paris website The Paris Residences of James Joyce Rainy Day Healing - gaining ground in life You're currently a free subscriber to The Stories in You and Me . For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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