43% say they’d pay extra for destinations or accommodation with limited or no connectivity
Two-fifths of people say their screen time increases on holiday despite 88% actively trying to disconnect. 41%, equivalent to 16.7million people, said they spend longer glued to devices while out of office even when trying to be offline.
More than half say social media makes holidays feel like work, while the same proportion admit their phones have compromised key travel moments – through distraction, pressure to post or an inability to fully switch off.
The research from Tourism Tasmania suggests disconnection has become a new status symbol. Nearly six in ten British holidaymakers describe being able to switch off completely as the ‘new luxury’ and a status symbol in itself.
Peace and quiet has overtaken traditional hotel perks, with 83% naming it the most luxurious part of a getaway, while 51% believe a proper holiday is one where they can’t be contacted at all.
More than a third (37%) of holidaymakers said they’d forgo Wi-Fi altogether over room service.
This shift is also reshaping how travellers plan to splash the cash when travelling.
Two-fifths (43%) of British holidaymakers say they’d pay extra for destinations or accommodation with limited or no connectivity.
Those actively seeking a tech-free escape admitted they’re willing to spend up to £32.50 more per night for this.
The same proportion (42%) rank remote, nature-led destinations as the most appealing option for a true digital reset.
Tasmania, Australia’s only island state, is emerging as a restorative haven. Recent high-profile visitors, including Gordon Ramsay and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, have praised the island’s world-class culinary offerings and pristine environment.
More than half of Tasmania’s land is protected in national parks and reserves and more than 20% of the island is a World Heritage wilderness. It offers a concentration of nature – from glacial lakes and ancient rainforests to rugged coastlines, iconic walks and more than 1,500 beaches.
Across parts of Tasmania limited coverage and low-population density means switching off isn’t something visitors necessarily need to plan for.
Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark said: “British travellers are telling us that holidays don’t feel like a proper break when the pressure to be online follows them everywhere.
“When people say social media is making holidays feel like work, and that being unreachable is now the marker of a ‘real’ escape, it points to a deeper shift in how many are wanting to travel.
“What’s changing for many is the role holidays play. For a long time, they’ve been about seeing more, doing more, sharing more.
“But that constant layer of connectivity means many travellers never truly switch off.
“What we’re seeing now is a growing desire to step out of that cycle altogether and spend time in places where there’s less connectivity, less noise and fewer expectations.
“That’s why Tasmania is resonating with so many people right now.
“Being an island set apart from mainland Australia, there’s a natural sense of distance from the noise and pace of the rest of the world – and with it a very different kind of holiday experience.
“Travellers can step away from devices, avoid large crows and queues and immerse themselves in remarkably pristine nature, while still enjoying easy access to world-class food and drink, arts and culture and a vibrant calendar of events – often all within close reach.
“If travellers want to stay connected they absolutely can, but if they’re looking to switch off, it tends to happen quite naturally here.
“For many people it’s not about disconnecting for the sake of it, it’s about slowing down, feeling present and reconnecting with what matters.
“For British travellers in particular, that’s increasingly what they’re looking to get out of a holiday.”
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