In a potential bonanza for leisure travel, interviews with over 50,000 Australian consumers in their homes has revealed Australian workers are owed a cumulative total of 140 million days of leave, an amount which equates to more than 383,000 years.
The latest figures from Roy Morgan’s State of the Nation – Tourism presentation derive from data in-depth interviews conducted face-to-face with over 50,000 consumers each year in their homes.
More than a quarter (25.2%) of the nation’s 10.9 million paid workers have four or more weeks’ worth of annual leave accrued, with 13.2% having more than five weeks.
The grand total is 140 million days of leave, equating to 383,561 years – plus a few months.
Commenting on this startling finding, Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine pointed out that with the Australian economy showing signs of slowing, the potential boost that would flow from people taking their accrued leave “would be considerable”.
“This would particularly be the case if Australians were encouraged to holiday in Australia,” Levine added.
For travel agents, an increase in Aussies choosing to holiday beyond Australia would also be a welcome trend.
Below: Australian workers’ accrued leave
Levine added: “Particularly with Australia’s 10.9 million paid workforce currently owed an average of more than 12 days’ annual leave; this not only would be good for them to have some relaxation but could also boost the economy.”
Written by Peter Needham
.jpg){kind=tracking}
