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To mark Valentines Day, Flight Centre has released new research which reveals romance is certainly not dead, especially when Kiwis are travelling abroad.
The research, commissioned by Flight Centre surveyed ‘Zillennials’ (Gen Z and Millennials) across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa and the UK, and found that most Kiwi ‘Zillennials’ have both experienced and sought out romance when on holiday.
Fifty nine per cent of Kiwis admitted to experiencing romance during their travels, with 42 percent of those saying they’ve experienced romance on holiday, “multiple times”.
Interestingly, New Zealanders were more likely than their counterparts in Australia, The UK and Canada to actively seek romance (59 per cent) and admit to seeking out romance, “to a large extent” (29 per cent).
This compares to only 12 per cent of Australians seeking out romance, “to a large extent,” 8 per cent of Canadians, 6 per cent of British respondents and 20 per cent of South Africans.
Flight Centre Travel Group New Zealand managing director Victoria Courtney says it’s fantastic that travel is enabling Kiwis to experience a touch of romance.
“Most of us can be a bit more carefree than usual when on holiday and perhaps that means we’re open to meeting new people, including potential companions. What better way to get to know someone than exploring the world together.”
On the flip side, the research also revealed that solo travel is popular with ‘Zillennials’ as many embrace the opportunity to connect with themselves while experiencing new destinations.
Thirty five per cent of Kiwis surveyed said they would be, “very likely,” to wander alone, putting New Zealand in second place as the most confident solo travellers just behind South Africa (45 per cent).
“Without sounding too cliché, there’s no greater love than the love you have with yourself, and a fantastic way to allow contemplation and self-awareness is to take yourself out of your comfort zone and travel alone.”
Courtney says travel has always been a rite of passage for Kiwis and it’s encouraging to see the younger generation still experiencing big life moments when on holiday.
“At Flight Centre we thrive on opening up the world for those who want to see. Whether it’s gaining a deeper connection with yourself or with someone else – travel can be lifechanging. This research reflects the passion (in more ways than one) that Kiwis have for travel.”
