As New Zealand continues to relax its COVID-19 restrictions, interest in travel continues to grow, with New Zealanders now more reliant than ever on the internet for information regarding travel.
An analysis of Google searches conducted in June revealed that many travel-related keywords have become more popular than before the pandemic. According to a report by Stuff, searches for domestic travel content increased by 50% compared to June 2019.
The report also said that the search term “where to travel” grew by 315% from 2021, while “travel insurance” searches grew 316% percent and “best place to stay” increased 226%.
Kiwis also seem interested in buying travel-related items, with online searches for suitcases jumping 578% from last year. With New Zealand in winter, travellers are looking to go somewhere warm, as searches for sunglasses and jandals are up 47% and 43%, respectively.
Caroline Rainsford, Google’s country manager for New Zealand, said that Kiwis are excited to make up for lost travel time, especially with restrictions being eased.
“They are taking advantage of the travel opportunities that have now opened up searching for places to escape the winter months overseas or make the most of our beautiful outdoor spaces,” Rainsford told Stuff, adding that while the surge in demand is welcome, the travel industry should be in tune with the trends that appear to be popular for NZ travellers.
The surge of online searches for travel cover also signifies a growing recognition that insurance is a necessity during travel. Insurers should take heed of this and shift their efforts towards online channels and capture the growing interest.
