Drop in Bank Holiday overseas trips?
According to VisitEngland’s August Bank Holiday Trip Tracker, which polled 1000 adults last week, 29% of Brits are planning to spend at least one night away from home over the August bank holiday.
Of these, 22% intend to go abroad, compared to 27% in 2008 and 33% in 2007.
But 70% are planning to take their trip in England, compared with 71% in 2008 and 65% in 2007.
This means 11.9 million Brits will take a trip in the UK over the bank holiday period.
However, ABTA estimates that 1.9 million people will leave the country during the Bank Holiday weekend with tomorrow (Friday) being the busiest day.
Around 70,000 will use the Eurostar for trips to the continent – when the landmark 100 millionth passenger will travel through the tunnel on Friday.
Beach destinations are most popular with the Mediterranean resorts in the Balearic Islands, mainland Spain, Turkey, Portugal and the Greek islands the favourites.
By Bev Fearis and Phil Davies
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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