Globe-trotting Gen Y leads the charge overseas

Despite the gradual decline of the Australian dollar, overseas holidays are becoming more popular among Australians of all ages, with 23% of the population taking at least one trip overseas in the last 12 months.

And according to the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research, it's Generation Y leading the charge: 27% of them have holidayed overseas in the past year (up from 18% in 2006). Baby Boomers aren't far behind at 26%, also up from 18% in 2006.

Meanwhile, the generations least likely to have taken an overseas holiday recently are Generation Z (17%, up from 11% in 2006) and Pre-Boomers (18%, a slight increase on 15%).

Generation Y also enjoys domestic getaways, with 60% taking a holiday in Australia over the past 12 months just above the national average of 59%. However, they're not the generation most likely to have holidayed at home: during the same period, 63% each of Baby Boomers and Gen X took a holiday somewhere on Australian shores.

Explaining the trend, Roy Morgan Research International Director of Tourism, Travel and Leisure Jane Ianniello states "despite being less well off than their Baby Boomer parents, Generation Y is similarly keen on overseas holidays, often making sacrifices to realise their travel dreams.

"However, Generations are broad categories and Roy Morgan's innovative new profiling tool, Helix Personas, can assist marketers to refine their search for those younger Australians who are holidaying abroad.

"For instance, 45% of 'New School Cool' have taken an overseas holiday in the last 12 months - close to double the rate of the general population.

"Typically young, tech-savvy and well educated, New School Cool individuals enjoy sociable inner-city lifestyles and look for a combination of fun and culture when travelling overseas.

"Among their favourite destinations are the USA, New Zealand, France, England and Thailand places where they can live it up at restaurants, shopping and nightclubs, while getting their culture fix at museums and galleries."

Roy Morgan 'Generations' definitions:

Pre-Boomers - born before 1946;

Baby Boomers - born between 1946 and 1960

Generation X - born between 1961 and 1975

Generation Y - born 1976 and 1990

Generation Z - born since 1991.

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