Brits fear higher prices, more red tape and unfriendly locals post-Brexit
Nearly 80% of Britons are concerned about holidaying in post-Brexit Europe, a survey by flight comparison website Cheapflights has revealed as Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 today.
Higher prices, increased bureaucracy and a less than friendly reception top the list of worries, with many UK travellers planning to take their future holidays in the US, Caribbean, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand or in the UK instead.
In the Cheapflights’ poll, conducted among 2,000 Brits, 49% cited poor exchange rates as their primary worry, while 36% were most worried about losing guaranteed local health care via the European Health Insurance Card.
Rumours of the introduction of visas to visit EU destinations bothered 35%, while 33% were worried they’ll have to pay more for flights.
Nearly a third highlighted a concern that EU residents might be less welcoming to British tourists, and 20% noted fears around the return of the punitive mobile-phone charges phased out in recent years.
Cheapflights said its analysis of 25 million flight searches over an 18-month period, comparing average monthly demand in the nine months prior to and since last June’s EU referendum showed fewer searches for the EU.
Searches for flights to Spain have dropped 14% while demand for France, Italy and Portugal is also down, it said.
Conversely, searches for flights to long-haul destinations including the Caribbean, Thailand, Dubai, the US and even Australia and New Zealand are all, on average, 20% higher for the same period.
The survey also revealed that 32% of those who are likely to holiday less in Europe following Brexit will opt for a staycation instead.
"Whilst the long-term impact of Brexit on flight prices remains uncertain, fears of immediate price hikes seem to be unfounded," said Cheapflights managing director Andrew Shelton. "Analysis of average lowest return fares to our most popular destinations shows that, across the board, flight prices have fallen in the nine months since Britain voted to leave the EU.
"Average fares to New Zealand, for example, are 22% lower, which equates to a saving of more than £900 for a family of four.
"Likewise, flights to Spain, France and Portugal have dropped by 18%, 15% and 14% respectively."
Cheapflights’ poll also broadly correlates to how the UK voted during the EU referendum. Respondents from the North East, London, Northern Ireland and Scotland – all pro-Remain areas – expressed the most pessimism about holidaying in a post-Brexit Europe, while those from the West Midlands and Yorkshire – which largely voted Leave last June – were more optimistic.
Similarly, nine out of 10 of the 18 – 24 year age group polled by Cheapflights expressed strong concern about the impact of Brexit on future travel plans, whereas for the over 55s – who strongly to leave the EU – that figure fell by more than 20%
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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