How does Gen Z travel? Think social media, smart tech, spontaneity and more sustainable choices.
This generation is all about chasing inspiration from TikTok, using AI to plan trips, and taking feel-good trips that don't cost the earth. But with fewer years in the workforce, savvy spending is a priority. In this report, we unpack key travel stats for Gen Z.
Value comes first
Gen Z isn’t staying put - they’re just getting smart about how far their money can go.
This is a generation that scans flight prices like it's second nature and knows that travelling more often doesn’t have to mean spending more. They’re not splashing cash, they’re stretching it - swapping big-budget blowouts for smart, smaller adventures that add up to a life well-travelled.
55% of Gen Z Australians say they’ll go abroad more in 2026, but only 44% plan to splash extra cash on flights. ¹
Across the globe, 52% of Gen Z travellers take at least three leisure trips per year. ²
And, 62% of them use apps and digital platforms to find better deals. ³
Over half (51%) of Gen Z made financial sacrifices for their last holiday and (56%) say buying less new clothes is worth it if it gets them closer to their next trip. ⁴
When travelling, 39% of young Australians are willing to swap plush pillows for budget stays if it helps stretch their holiday budget further, while 54% would save by booking cheaper activities. ⁴
When it comes to funding the trip, 21% of global Gen Z travellers rely on credit card rewards and 46% rely on their parents to help pad their travel budget. ³
In fact, over a third (36%) of Gen Z Aussies are motivated to travel with their family to save money. ¹
With price playing such a big role in travel plans, 64% of Gen Z feel confident that they know how to get the cheapest holiday deals. ⁴
Stress and spontaneity
Despite their savvy money-saving and travel-planning skills, Gen Z are not immune to stress when planning trips.
Limited budget, fluctuating prices, and an endless source of social media travel inspiration might make travel planning feel more like a juggling act than a dream within reach. And when too many options lead to decision overload, it’s no surprise some Gen Z travellers hit pause before they ever hit ‘book’.
57% of Gen Z find visa requirements stressful when planning travel. ⁵
79% of the Australia's Gen Z find booking travel overwhelming - compared to 48% of all travellers. Costs cause the most stress (72%) followed by choosing when (34%) and where to go (33%). ⁴
42% of young Australian holiday makers headed into 2026 without having booked travel as they were still deciding on dates. ⁴
It’s not just indecisiveness stopping booking; 15% feel overawed by options while only 9% are waiting on last-minute deals. ⁴
Despite plans to travel more, over half (51%) of Gen Z struggle to use up their allocated annual leave in a year – that’s higher than the 26% average across all age groups in Australia. ⁴
Tech savvy travellers
Gen Z didn’t just notice AI, they welcomed it with open apps.
This is a generation that grew up chatting with algorithms and swiping through suggestions, so it’s no surprise Gen Z are using AI for travel planning. AI can help simplify the process, from revealing where to go when, suggesting things to do within a traveller’s budget, and even making bookings. Gen Z has taken note.
Globally, over 80% of Gen Z use smartphones to research and book their trips. ⁶
51% favour online travel agents and direct online channels over traditional travel agents. ⁷
Only 38% of Gen Z travellers globally use traditional travel agents. ⁸
Based on a Skyscanner survey, 42% of people in Australia say they feel confident using AI to help plan and book travel – this rises to 52% for Gen Z (down slightly from 55% a year ago). ¹⁺⁹
42% of Gen Z are planning to use AI for destination research and 36% for comparing flight or hotel options. ¹
Almost 1 in 5 (18%) intend to use AI to book accommodation and 10% plan to use it to book car hire. ¹
It’s not all about tech, though. Over a third (39%) of Aussie Gen Z travellers believe that planetary and lunar activity, like Mercury Retrograde and full moons, impacts their holiday. ⁹
From swipes to skies
Inspiration starts with a casual scroll and ends at 30,000 feet.
Whether it’s finding new places to go, planning the details or getting recommendations on where to eat and stay, social media plays a major role. And Gen Z is not just consuming content, they’re creating it too. Finding a spot that’ll spur likes and shares adds an extra layer of motivation on where to go.
Skyscanner research found TikTok is the most popular source of travel inspiration for Gen Z in Australia (59%) followed by Instagram (51%). Only 11% are inspired by podcasts and 26% by film and TV (down from 43% in 2025). ¹⁺⁹
Most (88%) Gen Z travellers globally follow at least one travel influencer, and 45% trust influencer recommendations. ⁸
46% of Gen Z post their travels on social media, and 43% of them are prioritising trips that look good on the ‘gram. ³
However, IRL interaction is still important; 47% of Australian Gen Z travellers get into the holiday mood by talking about plans with friends, only 28% get into the holiday mood by sharing social content with friends. ¹⁰
Gen Z women are inspired to travel solo, with 83% of them saying solo female travel content on social media has inspired them to venture out alone. ³
While social media dominates, there’s room for other influences too. 18% of Australia’s Gen Z have booked a trip after being inspired by literary content – the global average across all ages is just 11%. ¹
Experience over everything
Whether it’s making new connections, satisfying a hunger to try new foods or catching flights to see new bands, Gen Z prioritises experiences.
They prize passport stamps over possessions and are open-minded when it comes to embracing a new culture. When travelling you can find them grooving to the beat of band they’re hearing for the first time, enjoying local cuisine or checking out new beauty products. There’s even time for forming new relationships too.
65% of Gen Z globally cite seeing the world as the most important way to spend their money. ³
They’re foodies! A global survey conducted by Skyscanner found food to be the most important factor (61%) for Gen Z when picking a holiday destination – that’s higher than the weather (58%) and the shopping (39%). ¹
Over half (53%) of young Aussies head for local supermarkets when on holiday to discover foods they can’t get at home, with 44% saying it’s one of the best ways to understand local culture and palate. ¹
It’s not just food that fills their suitcases; 42% of Gen Z say they’ve snapped up local beauty products abroad - the kind you can’t get back home in Aus. ¹
When on holiday, this generation are also more likely to seek particular cultural experiences than their elders too – 26% of Gen Z Australians are planning to go to a gig or concert when travelling in 2026 and 19% intend to visit a library or book shop. ¹
Over a quarter (26%) of Australia's young holidaymakers have travelled overseas specially to meet new people. ¹
Getting their R&R
Wellness over wild nights - Gen Z prioritise feel-good travel.
As a global trend, Gen Z seems to be more focused on health and wellness activities, even going so far as to popularise ‘dry holidays,’ trips where they don’t consume alcohol. Millennials might’ve indulged in party tourism, but Gen Z prefers to get a full night of sleep, focusing on daytime adventures and relaxation.
93% of Gen Z say travel improves their mental wellbeing, with 90% returning from a trip feeling less anxious and more positive than when they left. ³
81% also feel holidays are helpful in building resilience and leave them better able to handle life’s daily stresses. ⁹
73% plan trips specifically for wellness benefits like relaxation or self-care activities. ³
Half of Gen Z choose hotels based on their wellness offerings, like offering yoga classes or having a gym or spa, on work trips. ⁸
In fact, a third of Gen Z Australians plan to visit a spa or salon on their next holiday. Also, 19% are packing their mats for yoga or meditation - that's substantially higher than the 3% of Boomers who plan on joining them. ¹
Gen Z drinks significantly less alcohol than Millennials on holiday, preferring sightseeing to pub crawls. ⁸
Globally, they are also more likely to keep up with health and wellness routines (39%) than overindulge when on holiday (24%). ⁹
J.R.R. Tolkien may have written 'not all those who wander are lost' but wandering Gen Z get lost in books - 61% of young Australians say it’s important to have reading time while travelling. ¹
Travelling to a Blue Zone, where people tend to live longer, inspires 77% of Aussie Gen Z holidaymakers. ⁹
Conscious choices
Reshaping travel with every conscious choice and lower-impact itinerary.
More than half of Gen Z travellers say they’re willing to pay extra to help lessen the environmental impact of their trips. And we’re not just talking about ticking the “eco-friendly” filter and calling it a day. These travellers are actively steering away from over touristed hotspots, seeking out stays that skip the single-use plastic, and swapping high-emission activities for grounding days spent in nature.
In Australia, 76% of Gen Z travellers are open to choosing a less well-known destination versus an overly popular one for their winter sun break and 47% have actively planned to visit a quieter, less crowded destination due to concerns about crowding. ¹⁰
More than 1-in-3 (39%) of Australia’s Gen Z say they have felt overcrowding has negatively impacted the quality of their holiday. ¹
The majority (56%) of Gen Z prefer to support companies that are environmentally responsible, even if it costs more. ³
Globally, this is a generation that's drawn to nature when they travel. Compared to other age groups, they’re more likely to plan outdoor activities on holiday - like hiking (29%), wildlife spotting (27%), and water sports such as wild swimming (31%). ¹
86% of young Aussies are either planning to or would consider booking a summer or autumn trip to a mountain destination in 2026, with 64% saying it’s the peace and quiet that most appeals. ¹
Out of all generations, Gen Z globally is more likely to actively seek hotels with strong environmental credentials, with 56% preferring to stay in eco-friendly accommodations. ³
Stopping and smelling the flowers is a hit with Gen Z travellers from Australia, with 75% stating they either like or love visiting gardens while on holiday. ⁹
How Gen Z travels: smart, soulful, and more sustainably conscious
With a budgeting app in one hand and an AI trip planner in the other, Gen Z are hacking their way to the kind of travel that actually means something.
It’s not about ticking off tourist traps. It’s about soul-filling, story-worthy experiences - the kind you find watching sunrise from a mountain hut or swapping books with strangers on an overnight train through Europe.
Wellness matters. So does making more sustainable choices. And while their budgets might be tight, their values are non-negotiable. They’ll stretch a Dollar to afford eco-conscious stays, wild swims, and low-impact adventures that align with their ideals.
They favour moments over monuments. Nature over noise. Curated chaos over cruise control. And yes, their itinerary might’ve started on TikTok - but their journey is 100% their own.
Sources:
Skyscanner research conducted for 2026’s Travel Trends report using OnePoll in June 2025 with 22,000 respondents globally (2,000 Australian respondents).
Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll in November & December 2025 with 23,000 respondents globally (2,000 Australian respondents).
Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll in November & December 2024 with 20,000 respondents globally (2,000 Australian respondents). Gen Z responses are from those aged 18 – 24 at the time of being surveyed.
Skyscanner research conducted for Travel Trends 2025 using OnePoll in July 2024 with 20,000 respondents globally (2,000 Australian respondents). Gen Z responses are from those aged 18 – 24 at the time of being surveyed.
Skyscanner research conducted using OnePoll in March & April 2025 with 20,000 respondents globally (2,000 Australian respondents). Gen Z responses are from those aged 18 – 24 at the time of being surveyed.
