Spending by Brits in the international travel and hospitality category fell during the peak travel month of July (vs. June), according to Barclaycard, as consumers reduced spending—according to some key metrics. Increased inflation took its toll, reported as debit and credit card data from Barclaycard showed the following:
- Overall spending was 7.7. percent in the month, compared to June—while it fell 3.8 percent at travel agencies and 3 percent at airlines.
- According to Barclaycard, “This is likely due to the ongoing disruption across the aviation sector, as well as the 20 percent of Brits who are choosing not to summer holiday abroad this year, and the 16 percent instead opting to take a break in the UK … The popularity of staycations is driving spend in the hotels, resorts and accommodation category, which grew 1.9 per cent compared to June.”
- Said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Sales improved in July as the heatwave boosted sales of hot weather essentials.”
“However, with inflation at over 9 percent, many retailers are still contending with falling sales volumes during what remains an incredibly difficult trading period,” she noted, adding, “Consumer confidence remains weak, and the rise in interest rates coupled with talk of recession will do little to improve the situation.” For the complete article on the above, click here.
The number of Brits who are inclined to go abroad for work is increasing.
- According to the results of a survey from London-based Small Business Prices, which focuses on economic data trends, those surveyed who already worked abroad were asked about their desire to work abroad again.
- The results found that, overall, 72 percent would do it abroad again in the future.
- The highest percentage of respondents who would like to work abroad again was in the 36-44 age range, at 79 percent.
- Asked about their reasons for wanting to work abroad again: Sixty-three percent wanted to experience a different culture, and 63 percent think they’d have a better life. As well, 53 percent cited cheaper cost of living.
- Just 24 percent of respondents though moving abroad would affect their career negatively.
- According to Radical Storage, a luggage storage network, 44,000 British employees moved abroad in 2020 for work.
New Travel Jobs in UK Setting Records: Recently released figures from London-based C&M Travel Recruitment and C&M Executive Recruitment show that the number of those placed in tourism is “off the charts.” For example, the total number of July job placements was the highest figure for the month since C&M’s job index began in 2012. It increased 149 percent from July 2021, 74 percent from July 2019, 49 percent from July 2018, 5 percent from July 2017 and 8 percent from July 2016.
CEM said July traditionally sees a soft reduction in activity, but last month’s total number of travel job placements was 5 percent higher than June 2022 and the fifth highest level since November 2017. There’s more:
- July 2022 was the first-time vacancies, placements and new candidates all increased compared to the previous month since July 2012.
- However, the number of new candidates searching for travel jobs last month was 24 percent lower than in July 2021, but 45 percent higher than in July 2019.
- Also, the number of new travel jobs created in July 2022 declined 19 percent vs. July 2021 but increased by 14 percent vs. July 2019.
- Observed Barbara Kolosinska, managing director of CEM, “With the summer holidays in full swing, July traditionally results in a dip in activity, but July 2022 actually saw vacancies, placements and new candidates all rise from the previous month.
“This is the first time this has happened since July 2012 and demonstrates the sheer level of demand that the travel industry has for talent at the moment,” she added. “August is usually the industry’s quietest month for recruitment outside of December, so it will be interesting to see if it also defies historical trends, and early indicators suggest that it will be another very healthy month.”
(For complete article on the above, click here.
Not all Brit holidaymakers are worried about their carbon footprint. Results of a recently conducted survey indicate that more than half of British vacationers are “not worried” about the impact of their carbon footprint.
- Of the 2,000 adults surveyed by No 1 Currency between 25-28 July, less than half (43 percent) said they were concerned about what effect their travel choices were having on the environment.
- According to the study, men (at 59 percent) are more likely to be unconcerned by their holiday’s carbon footprint than women (54 percent), while younger adults are more likely to be more anxious about the planet than older travelers.
- Fifty-nine percent of 18- to 24-year-olds said they were worried, compared to 34 percent of over-65s, according to the research from No 1 Currency.
- Simon Phillips, managing director at No 1 Currency, said: “The government must work harder to get its climate change message across to holidaymakers, and it clearly needs to do more to help travelers better understand their carbon footprint as they finally get to take a break.
- Phillips also noted that No1 Currency data “confirms how most people like to unwind while on holiday. And for many, ‘getting away from it all’ also means forgetting all the troubles of the world. But they may not be fully aware of the carbon cost of their holiday.”
● According the GlobalData’s latest numbers, the UK’s outbound travel figures are estimated to reach 86.9 million by 2024. This would surpass the 84.7 million trips recorded in 2019 in spite of so many troublesome factors. Inexpensive travel, especially in Spain, is expected to be the most popular outbound destination. The report—United Kingdom Source Tourism Insight, 2022 Update—points out that the recovery in outbound tourism follows a weak 2020 and 2021, where lower traveler confidence and strict Covid-19 measures saw the UK’s outbound tourism numbers shrink to a fraction of those for 2019. Click here to read TTG’s article on the subject.
