100 Years of Tourism New South Wales
Key ThemesTourism Change
Travelling for pleasure was the domain of the rich - and often idle - in the first few decades of the 20th century. Few could afford to spend months on an ocean liner, take a Catalina flying boat to England or hole up in a grand Australian hotel in the mountains or seaside. The average Australian did not venture far from home and confined themselves to day trips to the beach and local beauty spots, or visited friends and relatives in the countryside usually travelling by a combination of train and horse drawn vehicle. The growth of car ownership coupled with the introduction of paid annual leave in the 1940s saw the beginning of Australia's love affair with driving holidays. In the 1950s and 1960s it was almost mandatory for young Australians to head off to England on a six-week line voyage. The introduction of the 747 jumbo jet in the late 1960s and cheaper airfares in the 1970s put international travel on the agenda of most Australians. Tropical island holidays replaced honeymoons in the Blue Mountains for many, and motels with swimming pools replaced grand hotels as places to stay. Packaged coach tours to the ski fields and South Pacific cruises gained popularity in the 1970s and people continued to flock to New South Wales' coastal towns for school holiday breaks. The advent of low-cost domestic airlines in the early 1990s saw many Australians fly in their own country for the first time as fares between the east and west coasts were cut dramatically. The idea of several short breaks, rather than long holidays, became popular in the 1990s with people spending a few days in a hotel resort, wine region or at a festival. At the turn of the 21st century people are looking for either adventure or relaxation, and sometimes a combination of the two. Spa holidays are as popular as surfing or snorkelling trips and more travellers want to stay in places that are in harmony with the environment. back to top |