ABTA 2014: Fall in the number of Britons going on holiday
Fewer Britons have taken a holiday in the past 12 months, according to latest ABTA research.
The Consumer Holiday Trends Report, released at the ABTA Travel Convention in Slovenia today, shows that 80% took a holiday for the 12 months up to July 2014, down from 83% the previous year.
There was also a slight drop in the average number of holidays taken per person, down from 3.1 to three holidays per person, however the number of holidays taken abroad remained stable at 1.2 per person.
Those in the north east, east and Scotland took the fewest foreign holidays per person with Londoners and those in the north west taking the most.
Londoners overtook the Scots to become those in the UK to take the most holidays. More than one in 10 Londoner took four foreign holidays ore more in the last 12 months. The Welsh took the greatest number of domestic holidays at 2.2 per person.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "While the market was very buoyant at the start of the year with consumer confidence on the up, the lates holiday market was tougher, perhaps refleting the broader dip in consumer onfidence in July, as well as good weather in the UK in June and July which we know impacts holiday sales."
Pacakge holidays have risen in popularity, with 51% of people booking a package in 2014 compared with 46% in 2013. When asked what the appeal was, 62% said they ‘wanted everything taken care of’ and 61% said they believed packages were the best value.
City breaks have overtaken beach holidays as the most popular type of trip. Last year, 42% took a city break compared with 38% who took a beach holiday.
Two-thirds of consumers booked their trips online and while 93% of those who did made their booking via computer, the numbers booking by tablet rose from 10% in 2013 to 18%, with the devices being most popular among the 25 to 34 age group. Those booking via mobiles rose from 13% to 17%.
The survey shows that the number of families taken an annual foreign holiday of seven nights or more remained stable, with 27% of parents travelling with young children taking their extended family along too.
Just over a third of holidaymakers booked further in advance this year, up from 27% in 2013.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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