Ski enthusiasts are wasting no time planning their ski trips post-COVID-19, with leading accommodation websites reporting a huge surge in traffic.
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Snow resorts in NSW and Victoria will open from June 22, with numbers on-site restricted due to social-distancing.
Searches on Expedia.com.au jumped by over 180 per cent* for the Snowy Mountains in the week following the lifting on restrictions on NSW regional travel.
Similarly, Victorians are also keen to hit the slopes since the green light was given to re-open Victorian ski resorts, with Expedia data showing searches on the website jumped by over 210 per cent for the Alpine National Park region in the week post the announcement compared to the week before (May 31 to June 5 compared to May 18-24, 2020).
Booking.com area manager Australia Luke Wilson said it's fantastic to see a surge in Aussies getting out and supporting local intra-state destinations ahead of the school holidays and ski season launch.
"Promising appetite for winter hub destinations, such as Jindabyne and Thredbo village, over the past week indicate that Aussie families are still eager and willing to make short-term plans to get away as the 2020 ski season kicks-off," Mr Wilson said.
Outside of skiing, in NSW destinations such as Mudgee, Orange and Pokolbin are also popular searches over the past week which shows us that Aussies are keen to get out and support local wine regions impacted by an already difficult vintage following the bushfires, exacerbated by travel restrictions.
Top five Booking.com winter getaways - June 1 to June 7*
1. Jindabyne
2. Katoomba
3. Thredbo
4. Falls Creek
5. Mount Buller
*Destinations searched in the first week of June (with booking window of less than 90 days) Search period: June 1 - June 7 2020.
Airbnb's country manager for Australia and New Zealand, Susan Wheeldon, said there has been increased interest from Australians in exploring their "own backyard".
"It's been great to see people getting out and about, spending quality time with loved ones and making a big difference to communities who've been doing it tough lately," Ms Wheeldon said.
"We're definitely seeing strong interest in our nation's chillier regions, with people looking to make the most of winter and planning cosy getaways with family and friends.
"To date, the community has been doing the right thing by following the rules and listening to government advice, for which we're very grateful, and we urge everyone to make sure they continue doing so."