Holidaying locally, otherwise known as going on a staycation, has become the norm for those living in West Australia (WA).
Record numbers of people from this area of the country are taking their holidays in the same region, in what The West Australian is calling the "saviour" of WA's tourism industry.
The main reasons for residents choosing to spend their vacation time in a more local area seem to be the low value of the Australian dollar and international security concerns.
Although this seems negative, this change in vacation habits is actually having a positive effect on the tourism of WA. Without so many resident holidaymakers, local tourism operators would not currently be enjoying such a good season.
Western Australia isn't as highly frequented by international tourists as some other states of the country, so the increase of visitors within the state has made a big difference.
In general, a staycation is anything from an overnight stay to a daytrip, or a full week's worth of holiday.
Tourism Research Australia released figures in January that showed that the number of West Australians travelling within WA rose by 12.1 per cent over the year. This translates to over 6.8 million overnight visitors.
With the increase in visitors there also came an uplift in the amount of money people were spending, which was recorded as a spike of $511 million (£262 million).
Not only this, but those who were visiting were also staying longer, recording an overall increase of four million nights to 27.9 million during the year.
Evan Hall, chief executive of the Tourism Council of WA, said: "It's fantastic more West Australians are seeing the value of travelling within their own state. And who can blame them when we have such a great tourism offering, particularly our natural attractions?"
He continued: "Revisiting favourite holiday spots in WA can make great family traditions, but people are often surprised at how much more there is to see and do since their last visit."
