The results of a couple of recent surveys show that the people of the UK would rather give up most near anything if it meant they could take their holiday. And not only that: midst a ceaseless drumbeat of speculation on the part of news media outlets that UK travel would fall off this year because of discontent over the impending implementation of the decision by UK residents to exit the European Union (“Brexit”), it looks as if Brits are prepared to travel more in 2019 than they have in five years.
A quick synopsis of the two reports follows.
First, the response numbers reported by Abta based on its survey:
—Almost twice as many consumers on a budget (25 percent vs 13 percent) would spend less on takeaways instead of foregoing their break.
—Brits would also sooner reduce the amount they spend on clothing and accessories (18 percent) and electronic gadgets (17 percent) over their holidays.
—Leisure activities (i.e., going out to the cinema movies and concerts, etc.) were activities people were least likely to cut back on (11 percent).
The association said the findings were evidence “taking a well-deserved holiday would remain one of the nation’s top spending priorities”.
—Asked to list some of the other common items they would consider cutting back on to save money for travel, with alcohol, cigarettes and takeaway meals being the primary choices.
—Those 18 to 24 years of age are the most tied to their holidays, with only 6 percent saying they would cut back on trips to save money, this is despite often being regarded as one of the age groups with the least disposable income.
—Thirty-one percent of the 18-24 age group said curbing how often they ate out was five-times more likely than cutting back on a holiday.
—The same amount (31 percent) of people with children in their household said they are most likely to moderate their spending on eating out, compared to just 13 percent who would cut back on the amount they spend travelling the world.
Commenting on the findings, Victoria Bacon, Abta’s director of brand and business development, said: “We have always been a nation of people who enjoy taking holidays and it is clearly a spending priority for a lot of people, often overtaking other popular items and leisure activities.”
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Second, there are the response numbers from the annual BVA-BDRC Holiday Trends report. (BVA-BDRC is an international consumer insight consultancy, and is part of the Paris-based BVA Group.).
According to the Trends report, there is a three-point increase—to 71 percent—in rise the proportion of UK adults who anticipate taking an overseas holiday this year.
—Two-thirds (66 percent) expect to take a holiday of four nights or more.
—On average about one in four of those intending to travel subsequently do not end up doing so, but this would still mean more than half the adult population taking an overseas holiday – an increase over 2018 which was a record year for outbound travel from the UK.
—Half (48 percent) anticipate needing a visa to travel to the EU, up from 38 percent a year ago, even though that hasn’t been proposed for any Brexit agreement.
—Forty-seven percent expect longer queues at airports because of Brexit, up by nine points on January 2018, 44% anticipate “more expensive air travel”–an increase of 10 percentage points over last year’s 37 percent.
—Two out of five respondents (40 percent) expect a less favorable exchange rate.
—One third (34 percent) expect increased roaming charges.
— Three out of four UK adults (76 percent) intend to take a domestic holiday, seven points up on January 2018 and the highest rate for five years.
—Thirty-one percent said they would be less likely to visit the EU following imposition of a €7 electronic visa-waiver fee on UK visitors most EU holiday destinations.
(To check out the full Holiday Trends report, click here.)
