Holidaying Kiwis Can’t Switch Off Email

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Holidaying Kiwis Can’t Switch Off Email

Auckland, 13 July 2012 – New Zealanders are feeling the pressure to always be contactable with eighty per cent reporting they check personal emails while on holiday, according to a recent survey commissioned by AA Tourism.

The same study also showed that four in ten respondents are unable to switch off from work, revealing they also monitor business emails when taking time out of the office.

Rebecca Cherry, GM Marketing for AA Tourism, says these results are proof that New Zealanders have a hard time removing themselves from dealing with personal matters and business matters while on holiday.

“The rise of smart phones, WIFI and social networking has created a society that demands immediacy in responding to emails and text messages.

“People should be maximising holidays and using them as an opportunity to relax and recharge. Instead, we are seeing more and more New Zealanders are being unable to refrain from replying, even if they are on holiday,” she says.

Social media is also creating an increased fear of missing out with more than 60 per cent of Kiwis with a Facebook account admitting to logging in at least once a week while on vacation.

Cherry says many people use social networking as a way to keep up-to-date with what friends and family are up to while they are away.

“It’s interesting to see the number of people who should be switching off from the pressures of daily life and enjoying the experience of exploring a new country or city, but who can’t stop themselves from checking what friends and family are doing at home.

“On the other hand, Kiwis are also using social media platforms to boast about the fabulous places they are travelling to, by updating their status and uploading photos in real time,” she says.

In addition to opening up the lines of communications, technology is also making travel more uncomplicated and stress-free with the number of free and cheap apps available.

“Smart phones are becoming a traveller’s best friend. With a mobile in hand, they can take more ownership of their experience by using them to look up maps and directions, find out where to stay and what to do, and research general travel tips while on the road,” says Cherry.

The AA Tourism iPhone app (available on iTunes) has everything you need to plan a trip around New Zealand. From accommodation, activities and hot deals to interactive maps and Been There travel reviews, everything you need is at your fingertips.

New Zealand Travel and Technology Statistics

• Eight in ten (79 per cent) New Zealanders email while on holiday
• Four in ten Kiwis (36 per cent) monitor work email while on holiday
• 60 per cent of respondents with a Facebook account admitted to logging in to the social networking site at least once during their trip
• People used Facebook most often for browsing (43%), followed by uploading holiday snaps (23%)
• Almost two thirds (64%) said they couldn’t go without their mobile phone for more than a week


Notes to Editors
* AA Tourism June 2012 Survey polling 5,082 New Zealanders
About AA Tourism
AA Tourism, in partnership with AAA Tourism in Australia, produce and distribute over 3.8 million guides and 3.5 million maps; promoting over 8,000 trans-Tasman properties, attractions and travel services. Targeting more than 8 million members of the New Zealand and Australian Automobile Clubs and more than 2 million Trans-Tasman leisure and business travellers, AA Tourism has all of your travel needs covered in Australasia.

Through multiple touch-points, AA Tourism strives to help Kiwis enhance their holiday experience through its various media channels and products including AA Smartfuel, 101 Must Do’s and Hot Travel Deals.

ENDS

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