Olympics will drive 12% of Brits overseas

More than one in 10 Brits will be heading abroad during the London Olympics specifically to avoid the sporting event.

In a poll of 2018 adults, commissioned by ABTA, 12% said they would be going overseas between July 27 and August 12 to get away from the Games.

The older generation is the least keen to stay in the UK, with 22% of over 65s intending to head overseas to avoid the event, and 18% of 55-64 year olds.

Some 9% of British adults are looking to go on holiday somewhere in the UK that"s free from Olympics fever.

A further 30% said although they are not taking time off, they plan to ignore the Games.

Meanwhile, 11% are planning to take time off to watch the Games on TV in the comfort of their own homes and 31% said that although they will not take time off during the Olympics, they are excited about them

Around 5% are taking time off work to attend events in or around the Games in London and other Olympic venues around the UK.

ABTA head of communications Victoria Bacon said: "With only six months to go until one of the biggest sporting events in our country"s history, it"s clear that hundreds of thousands, especially the young, will be taking time off to enjoy London 2012. However, for those who don"t love sports or want to escape the crowds, going abroad will provide a welcome alternative."

The research was conducted by Arkenford Ltd, which specialises in tourism and leisure market research. Fieldwork was conducted in September 2011.

** Where will you be during London 2012? Are you excited about the event? Have you noticed a change in bookings in light of the Games?

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by Bev Fearis

Friday, January 27, 2012

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Olympics

Cant wait for this tiresome and very expensive running and jumping fest to be over. Oh yes and all it will do for Britain is leave us with a very large bill

By paul howgate, Sunday, January 29, 2012
Backfiring?

With all this negative press about the games, maybe these two weeks will be the best time to get a cheap hotel deal in London?

By Keith Standen, Sunday, January 29, 2012
Is this information of any use?

It should be asked in light of ABTA's glowing deficit at the bank, what the heck are they doing wasting money on commissioning useless polls. What good or possible use is this information to the average travel agent (and ABTA fee payer) in the high street, who by the way, would have not the slightest idea what to do with it? This is not for profit corporate thinking again. Now that I am aware of this information it has not made the slightest difference to my business or marketing. It is two weeks out of a 6 month season for me, great, a total of 47% in favour, maybe our island won"t be so crowded this year peak season. But I rather think it will.

By Paul Davis, Friday, January 27, 2012
That's a shame

I have every intention of getting as far away from London as possible during the Olympics - hopefully far enough away that it won't even be on the ship's or hotel's TV. Sadly it seems as though, in spite of the unbelievable media hysteria about sport in general and the Olympics in particular, most people are not looking forward to the Olympics at all. If Abta's figures are correct and the percentages don't overlap, 51% of the population are actively seeking to avoid the ghastly Olympics. Which is a shame as I was hoping to find a nice discounted 3-weeks cruise leaving at the end of July - and it now seems that the Olymmpics will be generating more outbound than inbound traffic.

By Richard English, Friday, January 27, 2012