May 9, 2026 • 8 mins
Despite the rising cost of living, growing fuel prices and ongoing concerns about inflation, the demand for travel still hasn't dropped.
The Auckland Travel Show is on this weekend, and it's clear demand is alive and well, but there are some new trends emerging.
Founder Rob Eliott says people have redirected their plans - with plenty still planning trips for Asia and the Pacific Islands.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks, i'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
In the current world and economic climate, you might think
that travel would be off the table for Kiwi's. However,
it appears that's not the case with demand for travel
holding firm. There does appear to be a shift though
in how we're traveling, and it's something being seen at
this weekend's Auckland Travel Show. Founder Rob Elliott is here
to talk me through a Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Rob, Good morning, Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Has there been big interesting the show this weekend?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah? Absolutely. We had a really great day yesterday, a
couple of thousand people through the doors, which is always
a good sign, and opening the doors at ten am
today at ten till four brilliant.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Has travel slowed at all? Given increased cost pressures and
of course a bit of global uncertainty?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, I think travel's changed over the last few months, certainly,
But what are we comparing it to? Which normal? Was
it the pre COVID normal of twenty and nineteen or
the normal of a come on ago? So I think
we're sort of all getting used to constant change, aren't we.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So how has travel shifted where are people heading.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, look, I think obviously with all the turbulence going
on in the Middle East at the moment over March April,
it seems that bookings for some parts of the world
have slowed a little. But what I'm hearing from everyone
down here at the Auckland Travel Show is that people
have just basically redirected, you know, where their plans are
going to take them. And so certainly lots of people
(01:39):
who have tours and special itineries through parts of Asia
are doing really well at the Auckland Travel Show at
the moment. We've got quite a lot of the Pacific
Islands in the room. Obviously these are destinations that really
aren't too affected by what's going on elsewhere in the world.
But then I mean we've got about eight different crews
companies down here at the show as well, and there
(02:01):
are boarding you know, people still strong interest in Europe
cruises through you know, through France, things like that still
are still very much what people are coming to them for.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Are there countries people are less likely to travel given
the global situation.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Middle East hasn't been hot on people's to do list
that I've noticed. Yeah, So, so I think you know,
that's the that's pretty much the big one. And I
guess as well for sort of long haul travel. You know,
if you're wanting to fly through to Europe, we are
seeing people sort of be redirected through places like Malaysia.
(02:40):
So so you might have traveled through Dubai, but now
it's sort of you know, Malaysia Alliance or what have
you instead, And so I mean they've I think people
are sort of open to exploring some other, some other
routing at the moment, and in particular, I mean we've
got Malaysia Alliance here doing. You know, if you want
to do that long haul trip to London, for example,
(03:02):
you know halfway there you can choose one of eight
kind of stop off destinations as a free as a
free add on, and so you know, that's getting a
lot of interest here, understandably because he wouldn't want to
get Alan Kawi for a couple of days on the
way back from the UK.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Do you think the airlines have actually done a pretty
good job of adapting to the challenges they facing at
the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think again, they're having to be so nimble, aren't they.
You know, they're getting a curveball every other week. So yeah,
I think that. I mean, the reality is you can
still absolutely fly by via the Middle East, but everyone's
got a different sort of risk tolerance, I guess, and
everyone's got a different sort of anxiety around what might
(03:44):
what they're prepared to do, and so yeah, I think
they are having to be pretty nimble. And we've certainly
seen that with a case of you know, our national
airline here, but we've got you know, we've got Singapore
Lines and Malaysia Airlines in the room, and you know
those are those are two airlines that really aren't being
too poorly impacted by what's going on the board at
(04:05):
the minute.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Is it just the destinations that have changed a little bit,
or has there been a shift in the way people
travel or what they're wanting to get out of their travel?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, look, I mean from somebody you certainly I used
to travel quite a lot when I was younger, you know,
three kids and that sort of thing. Those days, those
days were you know, fancy free you could sort of
just jet across to you know, get across for a
week in somewhere. I think I did a similar thing
in the UK. But the reality is nowadays with everything
(04:41):
that is going on in the world. And hey, the
costant travel probably has got a bit more well, it
has got more expensive than what it was six years ago.
So people are tending to take probably fewer trips generally.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
But then do more when they're there.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
And so what we're hearing from the specialists we've got
down here at the travel show is that people are
really looking for an in depth are generally they don't
want too they don't want to jump on a bus,
a hop on, hop off bus, take a photo of
the monument, get back and go to the next site.
I think those days are somewhat over for the moment.
You know, people are really wanting to get off the
(05:20):
beaten track, get to really understand the place. And so
people are, you know, the the rise and rise of
the small group core. They're really kind of curated itineries.
You know, cruises, you want to go on a cruise.
It's no longer just the big ocean liner. Yes, we've
got that. We've also got the little river cruises through
(05:42):
the Nile.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
You know, might only had two hundred people on the boat,
you know, so you've got all these really interesting kind
of offerings now, so there's really been an explosion in
the last you know, a couple of decades.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Of of what you can do if you want to
if you want to go out and explore the world.
And so yeah, part of what we're doing at the
Auckland Travel Show is offering some of the best of
you know, the best in the business to be able
to help people choose that trip and you know, create
something that's really special. Why do you think you think?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Sorry sorry Rob finish up.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I was just going to say, yeah, back to the question,
you know, has has the way that we're traveling changed?
And I think yeah, I mean think people over that
COVID period that couldn't travel, you know, have really decided
that they're wanting to make the trip. They wanting to
go do those bucket list experiences and they're not going
(06:39):
to be put off by it. But when you finally
are able to get out and do it, you want
to make sure you get it right. You want to
you want to do it properly. And so yeah, so
it's not just a book and a check flood online anymore.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Which probably in pat does answer my next question, which
was going to be why do you think travel is
so important to kiwis because you think, given the world
at the moment, that travel might be the one thing
that people step back from.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I think, you know, I think people you know, there
was so much complained about being being locked over that
COVID period, and you know the reality is that didn't
take a couple of months. It took years, you know
some And so if you know you could be five
years older if you put it off the trip, now,
(07:21):
like when are you putting it off till?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
You know?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Are you going to be able to travel better in
three months or in six months, or in two years
or in five years? Yeah, and so the reality is
you might find that right now is the best time
to travel. So yeah, my thoughts and certainly the way
that I'm approaching things is there's no better time to
travel now. I'm not going to wait for another five
years and waits on five years older to take that holiday.
(07:47):
It's not going to happen. I'm going to take my
family now.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Rob, really nice to talk to you, Thank you so much.
The Auckland Travel Show is on today at the New
Zealand Convention Center. It is twelve to ten.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudgin. Listen
live to news talks there'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks, i'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
In the current world and economic climate, you might think
that travel would be off the table for Kiwi's. However,
it appears that's not the case with demand for travel
holding firm. There does appear to be a shift though
in how we're traveling, and it's something being seen at
this weekend's Auckland Travel Show. Founder Rob Elliott is here
to talk me through a Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Rob, Good morning, Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Has there been big interesting the show this weekend?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah? Absolutely. We had a really great day yesterday, a
couple of thousand people through the doors, which is always
a good sign, and opening the doors at ten am
today at ten till four brilliant.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Has travel slowed at all? Given increased cost pressures and
of course a bit of global uncertainty?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, I think travel's changed over the last few months, certainly,
But what are we comparing it to? Which normal? Was
it the pre COVID normal of twenty and nineteen or
the normal of a come on ago? So I think
we're sort of all getting used to constant change, aren't we.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
So how has travel shifted where are people heading.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, look, I think obviously with all the turbulence going
on in the Middle East at the moment over March April,
it seems that bookings for some parts of the world
have slowed a little. But what I'm hearing from everyone
down here at the Auckland Travel Show is that people
have just basically redirected, you know, where their plans are
going to take them. And so certainly lots of people
(01:39):
who have tours and special itineries through parts of Asia
are doing really well at the Auckland Travel Show at
the moment. We've got quite a lot of the Pacific
Islands in the room. Obviously these are destinations that really
aren't too affected by what's going on elsewhere in the world.
But then I mean we've got about eight different crews
companies down here at the show as well, and there
(02:01):
are boarding you know, people still strong interest in Europe
cruises through you know, through France, things like that still
are still very much what people are coming to them for.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Are there countries people are less likely to travel given
the global situation.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Middle East hasn't been hot on people's to do list
that I've noticed. Yeah, So, so I think you know,
that's the that's pretty much the big one. And I
guess as well for sort of long haul travel. You know,
if you're wanting to fly through to Europe, we are
seeing people sort of be redirected through places like Malaysia.
(02:40):
So so you might have traveled through Dubai, but now
it's sort of you know, Malaysia Alliance or what have
you instead, And so I mean they've I think people
are sort of open to exploring some other, some other
routing at the moment, and in particular, I mean we've
got Malaysia Alliance here doing. You know, if you want
to do that long haul trip to London, for example,
(03:02):
you know halfway there you can choose one of eight
kind of stop off destinations as a free as a
free add on, and so you know, that's getting a
lot of interest here, understandably because he wouldn't want to
get Alan Kawi for a couple of days on the
way back from the UK.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Do you think the airlines have actually done a pretty
good job of adapting to the challenges they facing at
the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think again, they're having to be so nimble, aren't they.
You know, they're getting a curveball every other week. So yeah,
I think that. I mean, the reality is you can
still absolutely fly by via the Middle East, but everyone's
got a different sort of risk tolerance, I guess, and
everyone's got a different sort of anxiety around what might
(03:44):
what they're prepared to do, and so yeah, I think
they are having to be pretty nimble. And we've certainly
seen that with a case of you know, our national
airline here, but we've got you know, we've got Singapore
Lines and Malaysia Airlines in the room, and you know
those are those are two airlines that really aren't being
too poorly impacted by what's going on the board at
(04:05):
the minute.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Is it just the destinations that have changed a little bit,
or has there been a shift in the way people
travel or what they're wanting to get out of their travel?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah, look, I mean from somebody you certainly I used
to travel quite a lot when I was younger, you know,
three kids and that sort of thing. Those days, those
days were you know, fancy free you could sort of
just jet across to you know, get across for a
week in somewhere. I think I did a similar thing
in the UK. But the reality is nowadays with everything
(04:41):
that is going on in the world. And hey, the
costant travel probably has got a bit more well, it
has got more expensive than what it was six years ago.
So people are tending to take probably fewer trips generally.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
But then do more when they're there.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
And so what we're hearing from the specialists we've got
down here at the travel show is that people are
really looking for an in depth are generally they don't
want too they don't want to jump on a bus,
a hop on, hop off bus, take a photo of
the monument, get back and go to the next site.
I think those days are somewhat over for the moment.
You know, people are really wanting to get off the
(05:20):
beaten track, get to really understand the place. And so
people are, you know, the the rise and rise of
the small group core. They're really kind of curated itineries.
You know, cruises, you want to go on a cruise.
It's no longer just the big ocean liner. Yes, we've
got that. We've also got the little river cruises through
(05:42):
the Nile.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
You know, might only had two hundred people on the boat,
you know, so you've got all these really interesting kind
of offerings now, so there's really been an explosion in
the last you know, a couple of decades.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Of of what you can do if you want to
if you want to go out and explore the world.
And so yeah, part of what we're doing at the
Auckland Travel Show is offering some of the best of
you know, the best in the business to be able
to help people choose that trip and you know, create
something that's really special. Why do you think you think?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Sorry sorry Rob finish up.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
I was just going to say, yeah, back to the question,
you know, has has the way that we're traveling changed?
And I think yeah, I mean think people over that
COVID period that couldn't travel, you know, have really decided
that they're wanting to make the trip. They wanting to
go do those bucket list experiences and they're not going
(06:39):
to be put off by it. But when you finally
are able to get out and do it, you want
to make sure you get it right. You want to
you want to do it properly. And so yeah, so
it's not just a book and a check flood online anymore.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Which probably in pat does answer my next question, which
was going to be why do you think travel is
so important to kiwis because you think, given the world
at the moment, that travel might be the one thing
that people step back from.
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
I think, you know, I think people you know, there
was so much complained about being being locked over that
COVID period, and you know the reality is that didn't
take a couple of months. It took years, you know
some And so if you know you could be five
years older if you put it off the trip, now,
(07:21):
like when are you putting it off till?
Speaker 4 (07:24):
You know?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Are you going to be able to travel better in
three months or in six months, or in two years
or in five years? Yeah, and so the reality is
you might find that right now is the best time
to travel. So yeah, my thoughts and certainly the way
that I'm approaching things is there's no better time to
travel now. I'm not going to wait for another five
years and waits on five years older to take that holiday.
(07:47):
It's not going to happen. I'm going to take my
family now.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Rob, really nice to talk to you, Thank you so much.
The Auckland Travel Show is on today at the New
Zealand Convention Center. It is twelve to ten.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudgin. Listen
live to news talks there'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast iHeartRadio
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