Festival experience platform Festicket comes to Australia, “the market seems to have incredible potential”

A month after setting up a North American office, UK festival experience platform Festicket has come to Australia.

London-based CEO/co-founder Zack Sabban tells TMN, “The Australian market, seems to have incredible potential.”

With a greater desire for a festival buzz, Australians are travelling further – both within Australia and abroad – and taking more time off to uptick that experience.

Alongside tickets to 1,000 international festivals on its website (used by 2.5 million people), Festicket lists a range of accommodation, transfers and other tourism options.

One of its biggest sellers is Portugal’s NOS Primavera Sound, based in the city of Porto, which is world famous for its wine and especially port, and offers extensive wine tours.

Sabban cites Mexico’s Corona Capital festival, “where you can sample the delights of lucha libre, go with a guide to local food and drink markets and even tour the pyramids with an archaeologist.

“One final example would be Tuska Open Air, a heavy metal festival in Finland.

“You can explore Helsinki’s unique foodie culture on a food walking tour, or buy an art pass through us to get discounts in the city’s many art galleries.”

Before the Australian summer season kicks in, Festicket has struck partnerships with North Queensland’s The Grass Is Greener, Beyond the Valley in southeastern Victoria and southeast Queensland’s Jungle Love.

The Grass Is Greener, for instance, is based in Cairns, and is held on Saturday, October 27 with a bill that includes a DJ set from Hayden James, Herobust, SAFIA, The Jungle Giants, Camouflage Rose, Manu Crooks and Dear Seattle.

Aside from accommodation from backpacker hostels to high end hotels, it offers cruises, diving, snorkelling and adventure packages to the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island and Atherton Tablelands.

Festival director Oli Frost says, “Partnering with Festicket is great news for us, as it means we’re able to provide the complete festival packages that we’ve found a lot of people look for.

“As our festival is based in beautiful North Queensland, it makes a lot of sense for fans to combine their festival with local accommodation, transfers and even touring the stunning Great Barrier Reef.

“Festicket is taking care of the sourcing of these add-ons and incorporating them into the customer booking process seamlessly, so we can remain focused on making this edition of TGIG the best yet.”

Sabban reveals to TMN: “We are also working with Grapevine Gathering NSW, Pleasure Garden and Mountain Sounds in Australia to provide packages alongside the festivals, plus Rhythm & Alps in New Zealand.”

Festicket research shows how Australians also look further afield for their festival experiences.

“Like in other parts of the world, young Australians travel so much more than previous generations and bigger trips beyond the Pacific are often seen as a rite of passage.

“The Australian music scene is making a big impact in Europe as well, particularly indie bands and electronic artists.

“So the likelihood that you’ll be able to catch your favourite local artist at a festival during your trip is getting higher.

“It’s worth noting that South East Asia is a massive tourist destination for Australians too.

“We hope to also bring more festivals on board in this region and we’d expect Australians to take advantage of the many incredible festivals going on there, much like revellers in the UK are increasingly drawn to holiday hotspots like Spain and Croatia for their festival fix.”

Australians spend more, an average €334 (A$617.30) per trip, while Brits spend just €217 ($401.10), for comparison.

Sabban calls it “one of the highest spends we saw globally.”

He adds, “We think this is due to a desire among young Australians to make the most of their experiences.

“Also perhaps, as they are travelling further, they prefer to have their accommodation and extras booked with us beforehand rather than winging it once they start their trip.”