IN what is not such great news for the Australian hospitality industry a new survey from Zuji has found that 60 per cent of Australians prefer to travel overseas, rather than stay in their country for a holiday.

Auckland topped the list as the number one holiday destination booked on Zuji.com.au during the fourth quarter of 2006.

“Australia has some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world, so the trend towards metropolitan experiences isn’t altogether surprising,” said Zuji Australia general manager, Peter Smith.

Only two beachside destinations appeared in the top ten destinations—Phuket and Bali.

Bangkok came in second, while Singapore, London, and Hong Kong, completed the top five. “Asian destinations, including Malaysian, Indian and Chinese cities, are popular choices on Zuji.com, driven by increased focus on the region from the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China,” Smith said.

Zuji also released its early booking trends for 2007, with London and Auckland topping the list.