Great Australian Travel Survey

Results from 1192 respondents and interactive tool for the 2019 Great Australian Travel Survey

Man kneeling with magnifying glass

Throughout 2019, The Great Australian Travel Survey was conducted, and received 1192 responses. The survey was designed to capture the behaviour of Aussies when travelling. Whether travel is as a tourist, to visit friends and family, for business or other reasons, the aim was to explore why, where, when and how we travel. The responses have provided some interesting insight about Aussie travellers and what's important or less important when we travel.

All responses were garnered in 2019 prior to any media about COVID-19 or impact on travel plans. Being a planned annual survey, it will be interesting to see future responses and how they vary as travel changes domestically and internationally over coming years.

Use our interactive survey results tool to explore the responses across 11 travel categories.

Travel Frequency
Last International Trip
Health & Safety
Destinations
Travel Insurance
Flights
Luggage
Activities
Finance & Money
Accommodation
Cruising

You can use the options in the orange box at the top of the report to filter results by Sex, Relationship Status and Age Group. For example: you can find responses for Female, Single Traveller and aged 30-39 for each category.

You can also look at each question in more detail by clicking on responses or clicking on the 'Filter' and 'Focus Mode' icons to the top right of each question.

Family of tourists

Things you need to know

^* See Product Disclosure Statement for full terms and conditions and exclusions and limits that apply.

Select or type the country or countries you are travelling to. Stopovers of less than 48 hours are automatically covered and do not need to be specified.

With the impact of COVID-19 on travel and health systems around the world, we currently only provide cover for countries where we can ensure there is acceptable medical treatment available and we are able to arrange repatriation.

We do not cover any country or area that has a smartraveller.gov.au status of Do Not Travel.

The list of countries we can provide cover for is constantly monitored and is updated regularly.

The Depart Date (from) is the date you leave your home, the Return Date (to) is the date you arrive at your home. These dates are based on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Please note your arrival home may be up to 2 days later than the date you commenced your return journey due to time zone differences.

Select the kind of policy that best suits your trip. Dependants travelling alone should take an adult policy.

Single
Covers 1 adult and up to 10 dependants who are under 21 years of age, not in full-time employment and travelling with the adult for 100% of the trip.

Duo
Covers 2 adults and no dependants. The two travellers do not have to be related, they just have to be travelling on the same itinerary for at least 75% of the trip. Discount applies when both travellers are listed on the same Duo policy, versus two Single policies.

Family
Covers 2 adults who are travelling together for at least 75% of their trip and up to 10 dependants who are under 21 years of age, not in full-time employment and travelling with at least one of the adults listed on the certificate of insurance for 100% of the person travelling’s itinerary. A Family policy covers:

you, your spouse (or someone legally recognised in Australia as your de facto partner) and your dependants; or
you, your spouse (or someone legally recognised in Australia as your de facto partner) and your grandchildren; or
you, your son or daughter and your grandchildren.

Benefit limits shown in the Table of Benefits in the PDS apply to the total of all claims combined, regardless of the number of persons the claims relate to.

We are currently only able to issue travel insurance policies to travellers who in the past 7 days, have not tested positive to COVID-19 or experienced COVID-19 like symptoms. This is due to the different and ever-changing testing requirements for airlines, cruise lines, visas and entry requirements for countries including Australia.

Yes
This means at the time of purchasing your policy, any adult or dependant you are purchasing this policy for or their household members, have in the last 7 days:

tested positive for COVID-19 with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or is still awaiting a test result; or
tested positive for COVID-19 with a rapid antigen test or other home test kit; or
experienced COVID-19 like symptoms.

If any of the above is true, you are not eligible to buy a policy. If you do buy a policy, the policy is void and there is no cover for any claims.

No
This means at the time of purchasing your policy, all adults and dependants you are purchasing this policy for and their household members, have not in the last 7 days:

tested positive for COVID-19 with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (or is still awaiting a test result); or
tested positive for COVID-19 with a rapid antigen test or other home test kit; or
experienced COVID-19 like symptoms.

We are currently only able to issue travel insurance policies for travellers who have had two or more vaccinations for COVID-19 at the time of policy purchase, unless they are 0-17 years of age. This is due to the different and ever-changing vaccination status requirements for airlines, cruise lines, visas and entry into countries.

Yes (2 or more vaccinations for COVID-19)
This means at the time of purchasing your policy, all travellers who are 18 years of age or older that you are purchasing this policy for have had at least two vaccinations for COVID-19.

While more than two COVID-19 vaccinations are not required to be eligible to buy a policy, you may wish to consider the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommendations regarding additional COVID-19 boosters you are eligible for, prior to your travel, as COVID-19 may still be considered a health risk when travelling.

All vaccinations must be any combination of vaccinations currently approved for use or recognised by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Therapeutic Goods Administration.

No (1 or 0 vaccinations for COVID-19)
This means any of the travellers who are 18 years of age or older have not received any vaccinations or only had one vaccination or have received vaccinations that are not vaccinations currently approved for use or recognised by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Therapeutic Goods Administration.

You are not eligible to buy a policy if you are 18 years of age or older and are not double vaccinated for COVID-19 at the time of policy purchase. Having a COVID-19 vaccination exemption does not make you eligible to buy a policy as we are unable to conduct a medical screening to consider your personal circumstances. Proof of double vaccination for COVID-19 at the time of policy purchase may be required for all claims directly or indirectly related to COVID-19.

Vaccination requirements will change over time as the travel industry gains more experience. You can ask us for more details. In the meantime, the Insurance Council of Australia can advise other insurers who may be able to provide you with cover.

If you have been diagnosed, treated for, undergone surgery for or suffered from, at any time, any of the following medical conditions listed below, we are currently unable to offer you travel insurance:

Diabetes (Type 1)
Cardiovascular disease (including but not limited to heart, blood vessel conditions, stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or surgery including but not limited to stents, bypasses, pacemakers and atrial fibrillation).
Weakened immune system (means if you are in an immunocompromised state due to a medical condition, medication or treatment and includes if you are undergoing immunosuppressive therapy).
Chronic kidney disease (includes conditions associated with impaired or reduced kidney function including if you are currently on kidney dialysis or have had a transplant).
Chronic liver disease (conditions associated with the deterioration of liver functions including if you have cirrhosis, fibrosis of the liver or have had a transplant).
Chronic lung disease including persistent lung disorders such as mild or chronic asthma (only included as a chronic lung disease if you are aged 60 and over), emphysema, chronic bronchitis and cystic fibrosis.
Conditions which require you to take prescribed blood thinning medication (including aspirin).
Any symptoms under investigation including tests or scans or awaiting diagnosis.

If you have any of the above medical conditions, we are sorry we are unable to provide you with travel insurance. The Insurance Council of Australia may be able to suggest other companies who may be able to provide you with cover.

If you do not have any of the above medical conditions, you are eligible to take out a policy with us, HOWEVER, we may not be able to provide you with cover for some other pre-existing medical conditions that you have. You should read the PDS carefully as we have a list of Pre-Existing Medical Conditions that we can provide cover for, and understand there is no cover for any claims related to or arising from any Pre-Existing Medical Conditions that are not listed as covered and our terms and conditions.

Please enter your details to see your travel insurance quote for your trip. We’ll also automatically send you your quote so you’ll have a copy to help you compare.

If you’d like to receive exclusive travel offers and tips, please tick the box.

We respect your privacy, see our Privacy Policy for more information. Phone number may be used to contact you by telephone call, SMS and WhatsApp.

As defined in our PDS, a Cruise ship is a commercially operated ocean-going vessel that is licensed to carry paying passengers, has on-board accommodation and trained medical staff.

Choose Yes - large ship if you will be travelling on a Cruise ship that holds more than 200 passengers on a sea or ocean for:

1 night or more in Australian waters, the New Zealand or the Pacific Region.
4 nights or more in Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions.

Choose Yes - small ship if you are travelling on a small Cruise ship (ship with a capacity of 200 passengers or less) along the Australian coast line for 1 night or more.

Choose No if:

You are not travelling on a Cruise ship.
You are taking an inland river cruise, ferry or house boat.
You are taking a day cruise and will not be sleeping on the boat.
You are sailing up to 10 nautical miles off any land mass.
- You will need to buy the Adventure Pack Add-on if you wish to participate in sailing from 11 to 15 nautical miles off any land mass.
- We do not offer cover under our policies for sailing more than 15 nautical miles off any land mass.
- We do not offer cover under our policies if you are sailing in a competition or racing more than 10 nautical miles off any land mass.

A cruise is NOT covered if:

You go on a cruise on a sea or ocean for 1 night or more in Australian waters, the New Zealand or the Pacific Region and you have not selected cruise cover and it is not listed on your Certificate Of Insurance.
You go on a cruise on a sea or ocean for 4 nights or more in Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions and you have not selected cruise cover and it is not listed on your Certificate Of Insurance.
Your cruise itinerary includes docking at a country which our policies can’t cover (please apply for a quote to check if the country your cruise is docking at is available at the time of purchase).

As defined in our PDS, a Cruise ship is a commercially operated ocean-going vessel that is licensed to carry paying passengers, has on-board accommodation and a trained medical practitioner or staff trained and accredited in advanced first aid (or the equivalent level in the country that you are travelling in).

Choose Yes if you will be travelling on a Cruise ship on a sea or ocean for:

1 night or more in Australian waters, the New Zealand or the Pacific Region.
4 nights or more in Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions.

Choose No if:

You are not travelling on a Cruise ship.
You are taking an inland river cruise, ferry or house boat.
You are taking a day cruise and will not be sleeping on the boat.
You are sailing up to 10 nautical miles off any land mass.
- You will need to buy the Adventure Pack Add-on if you wish to participate in sailing from 10 nautical miles up to 15 nautical miles off any land mass (but not competition or racing).
- We do not offer cover under our policies for sailing more than 15 nautical miles off any land mass.
- We do not offer cover under our policies if you are sailing in a competition or racing more than 10 nautical miles off any land mass.

A cruise is NOT covered if:

You go on a cruise on a sea or ocean for 1 night or more in Australian waters, the New Zealand or the Pacific Region and you have not selected cruise cover and it is not listed on your Certificate Of Insurance.
You go on a cruise on a sea or ocean for 4 nights or more in Asia, Europe or Worldwide Regions and you have not selected cruise cover and it is not listed on your Certificate Of Insurance.
Your cruise itinerary includes docking at a country which our policies can’t cover (please apply for a quote to check if the country your cruise is docking at is available at the time of purchase).

Choose Yes if you are going:

Recreational skiing and snowboarding
Big foot skiing and snowboarding
Cross-country skiing and snowboarding (along a designated cross-country ski route only)
Ice hockey (not competitive)
Ice skating
Lugeing (on ice provided by a commercial operator and available to the general public only)
Mono skiing
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Terrain park skiing and snowboarding (areas available to the general public only)
Tobogganing

The following activities are covered but must be done with a paid local professional snow sports instructor. If you are a professional snow sports instructor, you must still do the activity with another paid local professional snow sports instructor to have cover:

Off-piste skiing or snowboarding
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding
Cat skiing and snowboarding
Glacier skiing and snowboarding
Heli-skiing and snowboarding (provided by a commercial operator and available to the general public only)

There is NO cover for:

Ski or snowboard racing (including training); ski or snowboard acrobatics, freestyle skiing or snowboarding;
Backcountry, cat, glacier or heli-skiing or snowboarding without a professional snow sport instructor; and
Cross-country skiing outside of a designated cross-country ski route, bobsleighing or parascending (over snow).

See the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for further details including additional exclusions that apply.

Provides cover under the Frequent Traveller Saver policy for accompanying spouse/partner and dependant children/grandchildren under this policy provided they are travelling with you on the same itinerary for 100% of any of the trips within the 12 month policy period.

Note:

Spouse and dependants listed on Frequent Traveller Saver policies do not receive any additional benefit limits.
There is no cover under this policy for your spouse and dependants to use this policy to travel without you.

Our Frequent Traveller policies are available to travellers 75 years of age and under at the time of policy purchase.

Enter the age you are today - not the age you are when you are travelling. Your policy is still valid if at the time of travel you are older than you were at the time you purchased your policy.

For example: You can still purchase your policy if you are aged 75 at the time that you purchase your policy, but will be aged 76 during the period of your policy cover.

For travellers over 75 at the time of policy purchase, please choose multiple Single Trip policies.

This is the date that you want your policy cover to start. The policy start date will also be the date that Benefit 5: Trip Cancellation Expenses will commence. You will NOT have any cover under the policy before the policy start date.

The policy will provide you (and listed spouse and dependant/s) with cover for a full 12 months from this start date provided your listed spouse and dependant/s are travelling with you on the same itinerary for 100% of any of the trips within the 12 month policy period.

Cover for all other benefits will begin on the date of departure for each trip.

This is the maximum length of any single trip. Choose from 15, 25, 40 or 63 days.

There is no cover under your policy for any additional days of travel beyond the trip length that you have selected for your policy.

You may upgrade your policy to a greater number of days at any time by contacting us and paying the difference in price.

This website acts as a referrer only. This website does not act for/endorse or give any advice on Fast Cover or Fast Cover’s product and whether it is right for you generally or personally. If you buy a policy from Fast Cover after being referred from this website, this website will receive a commission. If advertising of other companies is included, Fast Cover does not act for or endorse them/the content.

Fast Cover Pty Ltd ABN 98 143 196 098, AFS Licence 538708. Policies are arranged, administered and varied in accordance with the binder issued to Fast Cover by the underwriters and are underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's. Any advice provided is general only and insurance coverage is subject to underwriting eligibility criteria, policy terms, conditions, limits, sub limits and exclusions. Fast Cover's compensation is included in the total amount you pay. Fast Cover receives a portion of the insurer's premium for promoting Fast Cover Travel Insurance policies. Consider the Combined Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) which are available at fastcover.com.au before deciding whether this product is right for you.

COVID-19 Overseas Emergency Medical, Hospital & Medical Evacuation Expenses (Sub-limits apply)

Reimbursement of the reasonable emergency medical, hospital or medical evacuation expenses incurred by you until you get back to Australia if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 in New Zealand.

Sub-limit: Funeral or cremation overseas and/or bringing your remains back to your home in Australia: $20,000.

$Unlimited

COVID-19 Trip Cancellation & Disruption (Sub-limits apply)

If before or during your trip:

you or your travelling companion are diagnosed by a medical practitioner with COVID-19; or
you or your travelling companion are personally contacted by a government health authority and ordered to isolate or quarantine because you have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19, however, even if this applies to your circumstances, there is no cover if you otherwise could not travel because of any travel restriction; or
you have a close relative in Australia who is unexpectedly hospitalised in a critical condition with COVID-19 or unexpectedly dies due to COVID-19; or
you are permanently employed as an essential healthcare worker and your pre-approved leave is cancelled by your employer due to COVID-19 before departing on your trip.

We will pay:

your cancellation costs for your pre-booked travel and accommodation that you cannot recover in any other way; or
your reasonable costs to reschedule or rearrange your trip

whichever is greater, but not both.

Sub-limit: For additional accommodation and transport expenses where you are:

diagnosed with COVID-19; or
denied boarding on your pre-paid scheduled public transport:

We will pay:

$200 per night to a maximum of 15 days

$3,000
per adult

IMPORTANT: The following are NOT covered under our COVID-19 Pack

The following are important things that the COVID-19 Pack does NOT cover, this is not an exhaustive list, for the full list of conditions, limits and exclusions, please read the PDS and COVID-19 Pack Document.

The closure of any border prior to or during your trip by any government or public authority.
Any travel restriction (border closure, lockdown, curfew, isolation or quarantine) related to a relevant area such as your home or destination.
Any tour operator, travel agent, airline, accommodation provider cancelling any part of the trip due to any reason arising from COVID-19.
Any claim where a COVID-19 diagnosis is made within 48 hours of the policy being issued.
Not going on or changing your trip after changes in government advice or the number of COVID-19 cases in a relevant area such as your home or destination.
You, your travelling companion or close relative is 76 years of age or older.

Terms & conditions, limits and exclusions apply, please read the COVID-19 Pack Document & PDS for full details.

Unlimited COVID-19 Overseas Emergency Medical, Hospital, Medical Evacuation & Repatriation Expenses

Reimbursement of the reasonable overseas emergency medical, hospital or medical evacuation expenses if you experience a medical emergency due to contracting COVID-19.

Sub-limit: Funeral or cremation overseas and/or bringing your remains back to your home in Australia: $20,000.

Up to $5,000 COVID-19 Trip Cancellation & Disruption

Reimburses you for pre-booked and pre-paid trip bookings (such as flights, accommodation, and tours) if they are cancelled due to you or someone listed on your Certificate of Insurance contracting COVID-19 which is confirmed by a PCR test.
Reasonable additional travel and accommodation expenses which you incur whilst you are still on your trip, if it is interrupted due to circumstances out of your control such as being personally directed by a government health authority to isolate or quarantine.
Reasonable additional childcare costs for a registered or appropriately qualified childcare worker to take care of your dependant children who would otherwise have been in your full-time care if during your trip, you are unable to take care of your dependant children because you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Terms & conditions, limits and exclusions apply, please read the PDS for full details.

NOT covered under COVID-19 Benefits

Any travel restriction related to a relevant area prior to or during your trip including but not limited to border closures, lockdowns, lockouts or other travel restrictions imposed within Australia or overseas.
You or your travelling companion changing plans or deciding not to continue with the intended trip after the imposition of any travel restriction, change in government advice or status of the number of COVID-19 cases in a relevant area.
Any tour operator or wholesaler, travel agent, airline or other carrier or accommodation provider cancelling any part of the trip due to any reason arising from COVID-19.
Mandatory arrival quarantine programs, domestically or overseas, whether the quarantine is made mandatory prior to your departure or whilst on your trip.
Any COVID-19 diagnoses that is not confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
Any claim where your or your close relative's COVID-19 diagnosis is made within 72 hours of the policy being purchased.
The cost of any COVID-19 test unless undertaken as part of your hospitalisation.
Any claim arising from someone not named on your Certificate of Insurance being diagnosed with COVID-19 or being classified as a close contact, other than a close relative in Australia who is unexpectedly hospitalised in a critical condition with COVID-19 or unexpectedly dies due to COVID-19.
Any claim arising from someone named on your Certificate of Insurance who is eligible, but not fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
If any travellers or household members tested positive or experienced COVID-19 like symptoms in the last 14 days, or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result.

This is not an exhaustive list, for the full list of terms & conditions, limits and exclusions that apply, please read the PDS.

More information