STA Travel today revealed the USA has surged in popularity among Australian travellers, with the number of people journeying across the Pacific jumping 17.5% in 2013.
This comes on top of 11.9% rise in 2012 which highlights America’s ever-growing appeal to Australians. The US Office of Travel and Tourism Industries has also projected almost 1.26 million Australians will travel to the US in 2014. If numbers continue to grow as predicted over 1.5 million Aussies will be making the trip in 2017.
New York also recently snapped up the number one position as the most desirable travel destination in STA Travel’s annual 
Australian traveller survey of 2,616 Australians. This is no surprise seeing as though the city, which is well-known as being like no other city, lured 8.5% more Australians in 2013 and for the past three years it came in 4th most popular in departures.
Australian traveller survey of 2,616 Australians. This is no surprise seeing as though the city, which is well-known as being like no other city, lured 8.5% more Australians in 2013 and for the past three years it came in 4th most popular in departures.
“We are expecting New York to attract even more Aussie tourists in 2014. With world famous tourist attractions, nightlife, events, shopping and cuisine, Australians are increasingly inspired to travel to the USA and experience the city that never sleeps for themselves,” said David Green, Managing Director, STA Travel Australia. “These figures are really exciting and make our partnership with Brand USA all the more important in 2014.”
The rising popularity may also have been spurred by Australians enjoying less expensive travel to the USA; return flights to Los 
Angeles are currently at record lows with return prices dropping as low as $829. While the Australian dollar has dipped since its all-time high of $1.10 in July 2011, it is currently sitting just above 90 cents. This is still a strong exchange rate compared to historical averages of around 76 cents and continues to encourage those Australians who like to hit the shops in the USA to stock up on retail goods that are generally available at cheaper prices than in Australia.
Angeles are currently at record lows with return prices dropping as low as $829. While the Australian dollar has dipped since its all-time high of $1.10 in July 2011, it is currently sitting just above 90 cents. This is still a strong exchange rate compared to historical averages of around 76 cents and continues to encourage those Australians who like to hit the shops in the USA to stock up on retail goods that are generally available at cheaper prices than in Australia.
More Australians than ever before are also shunning the hordes of tourists and higher prices that characterise the peak summer months by getting hot for cold American destinations. This is reflected in figures showing a 63% increase in the number of STA Travel customers going on a tour during the USA winter, including popular seasonal trips like New Years in New York.
Another emerging trend is for Australians to stay in the USA for longer, sometimes for a month or more, and this has resulted in STA Travel seeing a rise of 57% in bookings for trips that span the massive country from coast to coast.
“Many Aussie travellers are realising that America is very large and diverse and has much more than just its sprawling and famous metropolis’ to offer,” added Green. “They are travelling to the U.S for longer so they can explore further afield than the big cities in order to discover the many National Parks, small towns and road tripping all those long roads.”
STA Travel works with Brand USA to encourage travellers to journey to the United States and recently held a competition which sent three groups of winners from around the globe on a 43 day Uncover Discover USA Road Trip. The lucky travellers were accompanied by a professional film crew who recorded their journey. You can follow their road trip at youtube.com/statravel.
For more information about STA Travel and Brand USA visit: http://www.statravel.com.
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