I Just Skyped To Say "i Love You"

I Just Skyped To Say "i Love You"

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Aussie travellers are abandoning traditional forms of communicating with loved ones back home, with the convenience, cost-effectiveness and portability of digital communication making post cards and conventional letters a thing of the past, new AAMI research shows.

Facebook, Skype and Twitter are emerging as mediums-of-choice for travellers, surpassed only by email and SMS text messages for keeping in touch with family and friends.

"There are so many options for travellers to stay in touch and newer technology is definitely the most popular choice when communicating," said AAMI National Travel Manager Heather McDonald.

"This is probably due to the fact it allows users to broadcast text, photographs and even video, to reach a large network of people."

The survey of 631 Australians who travelled overseas last year shows 70 per cent used email to communicate back home, followed by 47 per cent who chose to SMS. A quarter (25 per cent) used Facebook and 12 per cent chatted over Skype.

Ms McDonald said the figures showed the days of sending post cards and letters may one day be a thing of the past.

"Sadly, it seems like the letter box is just a receptacle for bills and junk mail these days, as only 22 per cent of travellers said they sent a post card while on the road and just two per cent mailed a letter.

"While it's understandable, given technology allows us to communicate instantly with family and friends, it's a shame as who prints out an email and sticks it on the fridge?"

With the ease of staying in touch afforded by new technology, Ms McDonald said it comes as little surprise that travellers contact home every couple of days.

"More than half (54 per cent) stayed in touch a couple of times a week, with friends topping the list of correspondents, closely followed by parents.

The most common reason for communicating back home was to let loved ones know that they were fine (78 per cent) or where they were (74 per cent).

"However they do say that distance makes the heart grow fonder; and 38 per cent said they communicated just to say "I love you", most typically to their partners," Ms McDonald said.

She added that communicating is all the more easier with the amount of devices people now take on holidays with them like mobiles, iPhones and laptops, making it incredibly easy to stay in touch any time.

"Gone are the days of seeking out internet cafes, or the post office for that matter. With the increasing compatibility of mobile phone networks, three-quarters of travellers (74 per cent) said they took phones with them when they travel and one-third (33 per cent) took laptops.

With so many travelling with expensive communication equipment, Ms McDonald said travellers should consider travel insurance to protect against not just accidents or illness, but also for their belongings.

"We know that travellers take more gear with them these days so you really need to think about the importance of travel insurance for your expensive equipment, in case it is lost or stolen.

How Australian travellers stayed in touch while overseas:

Email: 70%
Phone call(s): 48%
SMS: 47%
Facebook: 25%
Mailed postcard: 22%
Skype: 12%
Mailed letter: 2%
Twitter: 1%
E-postcards: 1%
Personal web page: 1%
Didn't keep in touch: 7%

Note: The research results are based on a national online survey of 631 Australians aged 18-65 yrs who had travelled overseas in 2009 for 5 days or longer.

About the Author:
Planning every detail of your holiday or trip will help you be prepared of any eventuality that could occur. The best way to combat a ruined holiday is to purchase an adequate travel insurance policy from AAMI Travel Insurance.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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