Bumper Easter ahead: Aussies set to spend $9 billion over the break

It’s looking like a great Easter for retailers and the hospitality and tourism sector, with Australians set to spend $9 billion over the holiday period.

Research from the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan reveals Australians will spend an expected $7.1 billion on holidays during the Easter break with an additional $1.5 million to be spent on food and chocolates.

Easter trade up as Aussies spend big

Seven out of ten Aussies (73 per cent) say they will spend up on Easter goodies with an average spend of $100. NSW residents are expected to spend the most, clocking up $500 million on Easter fare. 78 per cent of Australians are set to spend the same or more than they did on these items compared to last year.

In welcome news for the tourism sector, over four million Australians are planning an Easter getaway. The majority of spending is coming from cashed-up millennials who will spend on average $2000 during the holiday. Those aged 35-49, and also the most likely to have a family in tow, and are expected to spend a total of $2.6 billion overall – more than any other age group.

Of the Australians going away this Easter, 63 per cent will be travelling within their own state, 34 per cent will be going interstate and 3 per cent oversea

“Australians have had their travel restricted through the pandemic,” ARA CEO Paul Zahra says, “but with the borders opened and safety protocols relaxed, people will be taking advantage of the Easter long weekend, getting away and spending $7.1 billion on their trips.

“This is a significant boost for tourism operators and local businesses who’ve been doing it tough these past two years.

Zahra says the Easter holidays mark the first time in two years the nation’s borders are fully open and many people are expected to take advantage of the break to reunite with loved ones.

“Travel plans were discarded in 2020 and 2021 due to the various snap lockdowns, and last Christmas was disrupted by Omicron. With minimal COVID restrictions in place and Australia’s high vaccination rate providing safety and confidence, people are now starting to go back to more regular holiday and social activities,” Zahra said.

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