Bleak economic outlook takes an Aussie holidayI see evidence everywhere I go that Australians are doing exactly what Mel and Kochie are urging on their Sunrise TV show – rejecting the recession.
According to economic statistics, the recession gripping the rest of the world isn't happening here. It wasn't happening in Alaska, either, while I was there in May (see 'Love in the land of skunk cabbage', page 36). This was obvious from the thousands of cruise ship passengers I saw flooding the streets of small Alaskan towns every day – many of them Australians rejecting our Claytons recession.
Now a survey of 1550 Members gives us even more economic hope, with 72 per cent saying the next 12 months would be a good time to take a holiday. About the same percentage would prefer to holiday within Australia (see ‘Aussies love their own backyard', page 31).
That's great news for the local economy, unless you run a travel company that specialises in international holidays. On the other hand, the 30 per cent who would prefer to travel overseas still make up a huge chunk of the market.
The recession news just gets better when you look at the great travel deals now on offer, with huge discounts on a range of cruises, flights and holiday packages. You can grab some of these deals at NRMA Travel's Travel and Cruise Expos being held in Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong. Check the dates and details on page 31.
For more ways to save on travel, I recommend the latest (July-August) issue of NRMA's Way2go magazine, brought to you by the same publishing team that produces Open Road. Yes, that's us. Excuse the shameless plug, but we think this is the best travel magazine in Australia. It's THE magazine for people who take holidays – and I don't know anyone who doesn't.
Australian Classic Car is another NRMA magazine from the Open Road team. Since we took over this title, we are proud of how we have lifted the quality of its design, photography and journalism, making it a must-buy for classic car enthusiasts... and dreamers like me. I love the Yank tanks in the current (July) issue, especially the Buick Riviera pictured above.
Members who own a classic car can now join the NRMA Classic Car Club and enjoy its many benefits. The club has just been launched and details are on page 14.
David Naylor Editor-in-chief
Open Road July/August 2009
