Confusion over 2020 May Bank Holiday leads to bookings for wrong date
UK holidaymakers are booking their early May Bank Holiday break for the wrong date because millions of 2020 calendars and dairies have been incorrectly printed.
Demand for travel over the ‘non-existent’ holiday date is leading to increased prices over the first weekend of May.
The first of two Bank Holidays in May traditionally falls on the first Monday of the month, which for 2020 would be May 4.
However, the Government changed the holiday to Friday May 8 to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, marking the start of three days of remembrance.
When the change was announced in June this year, many 2020 calendars and diaries had already been printed and publishers decided against making expensive reprints.
Those unaware of the change have been booking their holidays for the weekend of Monday May 4, according to the Sun newspaper.
The paper said some travel and school holiday websites are still listing the wrong Bank Holiday date.
The Sun said demand for flights over the May 1-4 holiday weekend has seen prices rocket, with flights costing a similar price to the May 5-8 break, and significantly higher than other periods during the spring months.
It said travel experts expect many will take May 4 as an ‘unofficial’ holiday day.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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