Australian travellers heading to Europe this year are spending heavily on beauty treatments, new wardrobes and fitness programs before departure, but many remain unclear about what their travel insurance policies actually cover, according to new research from PassportCard Australia.
The report found younger Australians are embracing “looksmaxxing” culture as they prepare for European holidays, while ongoing global instability has done little to deter travel plans. Just 1.5 per cent of Australians under 30 have cancelled a European trip this year, while a combined 25 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial travellers say they are heading to Europe “no matter what”.
Europe remains a priority despite uncertainty
The research found younger travellers are adapting their travel plans rather than abandoning them. More than 40 per cent of Millennials and one-third of Gen Z respondents said they had spent too long saving and planning for their trip to postpone it now.
Gen Z travellers were also significantly more likely than Boomers to seek alternative flight routes to avoid conflict zones, reflecting a willingness to navigate uncertainty in order to travel.
PassportCard Australia Chief Executive Officer Peter Klemt said younger travellers were determined to make long-awaited trips happen despite global events.
Looksmaxxing drives pre-travel spending
The report highlights the growing influence of appearance-focused travel preparation among younger Australians.
More than seven in 10 Gen Z travellers and six in 10 Millennials spend money on beauty or aesthetic treatments before travelling overseas. Almost half purchase new clothing, while around one-third invest in skincare, haircare or beauty products ahead of departure.
Fitness routines are also becoming part of holiday preparation, with around one-third of younger travellers starting a fitness or weight-loss program before travelling. Nearly one in five said they would consider cosmetic injectables or fillers before or during an overseas trip.
Insurance knowledge gaps remain
Despite concerns about travel disruption and rising costs, the research found significant gaps in understanding of travel insurance coverage.
More than half of Gen Z and Millennial travellers admitted they would only properly investigate what their policy covers if something went wrong while overseas. Overall, 16 per cent of Australians said they did not fully understand what circumstances could void their travel insurance cover, rising to 26 per cent among Gen Z travellers.
PassportCard claims data showed medical issues remain the leading cause of travel insurance claims in Europe, accounting for 31 per cent of cases. Luggage-related incidents represented 26 per cent of claims, while cancellations accounted for 15 per cent.
The findings also revealed confusion around policy exclusions, with some travellers incorrectly assuming events such as war, civil unrest, natural disasters and airline insolvency are automatically covered by travel insurance.
As European travel demand remains strong, the report highlights the importance of travellers understanding policy coverage before departure rather than after problems arise overseas.
