07 October 2008

Credit crunch and euro to hit holidays to Western Europe

More than a third of people say the credit crunch will affect where they holiday abroad next year, according to a new poll.

Thirty five per cent revealed that the current economic situation will have an impact on the destination they go to.

Thirty eight per cent said it would reduce the number of holidays to be taken, while 32% said it will affect the type of holiday chosen. Twenty nine per cent said they would be reducing the duration of their holiday.

The strength of the euro is also putting travellers off holidaying in Western Europe in 2009.

Only 46% said they plan to holiday in the region, against 65% of travellers who visited Western Europe in 2008 and 69%who visited in 2007.

Thirty eight per cent think they will take less holidays next year.

But almost half (47%) do not plan to change their travel plans due to the economic situation, although a quarter (24%) are still undecided.

The Ipsos MORI poll for ABTA conducted in the first two weeks of
September also found that 83% who have been on a recent overseas holiday are planning to take another one in the next 12 months.

The ABTA Holiday Survey of more than 700 people revealed that 46% believe that the destinations they plan to go to and the type of holiday they choose will be unaffected by the money markets, while half said they will not be cutting back on the length of their holidays.

Just under four in ten (39%) do not plan to reduce the number of holidays they take, the figures released at the ABTA Travel Convention revealed.

The number taking just one holiday abroad this year was 42%, while 30% took three or more holidays during the last 12 months.

Half of people polled do not believe the economic downturn will affect the duration of their holidays.

In 2008, 31% said that their last holiday was of 11-14 nights, 31% took a five-seven-night holiday, while short breaks of one to four nights were slightly more popular at 14%, than the eight-10 night duration - of which only 11% said they had been on.

by Phil Davies