• BY:KATE SCHNEIDER 
• From:news.com.au

THE explosion of digital devices and the rise of group buying have seen Australians ditch extensive holiday planning over

Planning as you go.

doing it on the go.

But one in four Australians say they are planning on taking more short trips at home in the next 12 months as they seek certainty and nostalgia in an increasingly complex world.

These are the findings of the Domesticate 2011 report – a qualitative study based on interviews conducted late last year by global market research firm TNS – that aims to examine why we are not exploring our country like we used to.

TNS Travel and Leisure director Jo Farquhar said despite wanting to “switch off” on holiday the trend was for Australians to use phone apps as well as location-based rating services such as Foursquare and travel apps such as TripAdvisor.

Group buying websites have also increased in popularity, taking the use of technology when planning a holiday to the next level.

“From our research, it’s safe to say that usage of these tools will only increase as more travellers gain access to smartphones and as mobile data prices decrease.”

She said travellers were also increasingly sharing their experiences en route by using tools like Facebook photos and check-ins.

According to TNS only 7 per cent left their phone at home during their last domestic holiday and 61 per cent own a smart phone.

“Travel is seen as one of the important enriching life experiences to which status is now attached… where people used to buy things, now they buy experiences,” the report found.

The study says the current Aussie mindset provides an historic opportunity to turn around the 8.7 per cent decline in trips since 1998 by promoting Australia as the “no worries” holiday.

But the number of Australians choosing overseas travel instead of domestic trips continued to increase with the perception it offers “new experiences” and satisfies those seeking fun, adventurous and relaxing trips.

Regardless of where they travel to, Aussies are resisting the urge to splurge, opting for smaller treats instead of large-scale indulgences and seeking the best value for money.

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