Outback tourism operators are feeling the squeeze as soaring costs and increasing global competition cut into visitor numbers.
The Morgan family say their 12-month outback adventure around Australia is costing them around $2,000 a week.
Undeterred by a rise in the cost of remote travel in Australia, they took the plunge and sold their house in Mackay in central Queensland to fund a year-long caravan journey. Experiences like the Morgans' are becoming increasingly out of reach for many Australians, something which is reflected in tourism figures.Outback New South Wales recorded a 15 per cent decline, with 388,000 fewer visitor nights, and outback Queensland experienced a 9 per cent drop, or 439,000 fewer nights.
"People are a little bit concerned about booking, 'am I going to get my money back if the airline folds?' and, 'is the airline going to be around in two months' time?'," Ms Plawutsky said.Recent data shows a 32 per cent rise in outbound travel in the year to June, compared to the previous year, with Australians taking more than 11 million trips.
"Things are back to normal, and it takes time to get to the outback, and a lot of people are not taking the time that they perhaps did."
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