02 September 2009

ebookers identifies the latest travel buzzword

The latest travel buzzword has been identified by ebookers.com to mark a new trend.

The agency has come up with the name ‘Res-caper’ following research which reveals that 19% of people made redundant in the credit crunch are heading off on an extended holiday to escape from the recession.

It also found that 26% are using their redundancy package to fund their ‘Res-cape’.

The study, which polled more than 4,000 UK adults, uncovered that the nation’s unemployed are spending over £382 million on trips abroad, with the average Res-caper spending £2,678.69 on their dream trip.

Furthermore, despite uncertain times, 5% would spend a staggering £9,000- £10,000 on our trip.

The research also found:

- 18% of us will take our entire families away on a Res-cape, allowing the children the opportunity to experience the trip of a lifetime

- Britons will take an average of up to of three months out for their trip, and 5% will take off up to a year

- Despite job uncertainty and worries over their financial future, 42% are delving into their savings to fund their holiday

- Australasia is the most popular destination with 29% heading to the sun, sea and sand of Australia and New Zealand

- 44 percent will take a partner, although 15% will go it alone

- Those under 25 yrs are the most likely to head off on their dream holiday (22%) with over half (55%) claiming they would use their savings to fund their holiday, compared to 15% aged between 31 and 45 yrs.

Claire Howard-Jones, ebookers.com head of marketing, said: "The recession is changing the way we travel with a new breed of traveller emerging in the Res-caper.

"It’s great to see that the credit crunch is not all doom and gloom and people are taking the opportunity to jet off, enjoy their redundancy money and see more of the world."

By Bev Fearis