Almost three quarters of people (73%) are to cut their spend on holidays this year, a new study shows.
And only 11% of accommodation and travel is now booked through third party websites (less than the 14 -15% booked via travel agents).
The survey also reveals that 73% of holidaymakers say that the UK looks like a good holiday option this year.
Short breaks are set to benefit, with 20% planning to book more short breaks at home than last year.
Amongst the other findings are:
· 45% of those interviewed disagreed that ‘their main holiday is one of the last things they would cut back on’.
· 13 UK destinations (including Skegness) feature on the top 20 places people have actually booked to go.
· More than 90% of people have booked their accommodation in advance and over 50% of these bookings are made online and bought directly from the provider.
· Recommendations from friends are the most important source of information for UK trips and printed brochures for overseas trips.
The figures come from Travel Navigator, a new national independent UK holiday survey launched by travel research specialist Arkenford based on questioning 2,000 adults a month about their travel plans and their booking intentions over the next three months.
Director Ben Moxon said: These figures are a reflection of the times. People are downsizing and also becoming increasingly independent and this will be food for thought for many operators.
˜Travel Navigator is designed to be working tool for managers in the industry. It provides key data into the booking and travel patterns of your current market segments, those you should be targeting and the chance to move quickly before your competitors do.
by Phil Davies | 
Tour Operator
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