Optimism key in tourism booking behaviour

Optimism is a key factor in consumers tourism purchasing decisions with New Zealanders currently having more of it than Australia at the moment, according to surveys conducted in both countries by Roy Morgan.

A special Roy Morgan New Zealand SMS Survey taken in mid-November showed 53% of New Zealanders think 2018 will be better than 2017, compared to only 26% that say 2018 will be worse. A further 21% expect 2018 will be 'the same' as 2017.

Here New Zealanders are far more optimistic about 2018 than their Australian counterparts, with only 31% of Australians expecting 2018 to be 'better' than 2017.

The 53% of New Zealanders saying 2018 will be better than 2017 is lower than the last time this survey was conducted in 2009. However, New Zealanders are still a lot more optimistic about the coming year than Austraalians.

Driving the positive result are supporters of new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the Labour-NZ First-Greens Government she leads. 74% of Labour supporters, 67% of NZ First supporters and an even higher 82% of Greens supporters expect 2018 will be 'better' than 2017 compared to only 30% of National supporters.

In contrast to Australia, women in New Zealand who are more optimistic than men, with 58% of women expecting a “better” 2018 than 2017 compared to 48% of men.

Commenting on the findings, Roy Morgan Research Chief Executive Michele Levine attributed the positive sentiment to the recent election victory of New Zealand’s new Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Levine dvised "it is supporters of the new Labour-New Zealand First-Greens Government that have a very optimistic view of next year with 74% of Labour supporters, 67% of New Zealand First supporters and

82% of Greens supporters saying 2018 will be “better” than 2017 compared to only 30% of National supporters.

“In addition, a striking majority of 58% of women believe 2018 will be better than 2017 compared to 48% of men while a majority of all age groups under 65 also believe 2018 will be better than 2017 – including 58% of 18-24 year olds, 56% of 25-34 year olds and 57% of 35-49 year olds.

“Comparing sentiment in New Zealand to their counterparts across the Tasman in Australia shows New Zealanders are far more optimistic than Australians – only 31% of Australians say 2018 will be better than 2017, a record low result for the survey first conducted in 1980.”

Unlike New Zealanders, Australians have had to put up with the long-running 'dual national' fiasco disqualifying a numbers of Federal politicians from office. 

New Zealand, along with nations such as Canada, the United Kingdom and the USA, has no restrictions on dual nationals in government. 

25th October 2017 - LEISURE PORTFOLIOS ON FRONT BENCH IN NEW ZEALAND’S NEW GOVERNMENT

6th September 2017 - TOURISM TAX ON THE AGENDA IN NEW ZEALAND ELECTION 

21st August 2017 - INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO NEW ZEALAND SPEND $10.3 BILLION IN YEAR TO JUNE 2017 

27th August 2016 - POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR MOST OF AUSTRALIA’S TOURISM SECTORS 

27th January 2014 - THE END OF THE GREAT AUSSIE FAMILY HOLIDAY?

1st April 2013 - NEW REPORT TO HELP GUIDE FUTURE TOURISM DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

27th December 2012 - DELOITTE: TRAVEL, HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE COMPANIES SHOULD BE 'OPTIMISTIC' ABOUT 2013

20th August 2009 - NEWS NOT ALL BAD FOR TOURISM: ROY MORGAN