Fewer Brits taking UK holidays
The number of Brits taking a holiday in the UK has fallen, according to the latest research by ABTA.
The association’s Holiday Habits report, released today at the Travel Convention in Seville, said the number of UK holidays has dropped from an average of 2.1 in 2017 to 1.8 this year.
A survey of 2,001 Brits found 68% of the population took a UK holiday in the 12 months to August 2018, down from 72% in the previous 12 months.
The average spend on UK holidays is also down, from £311 to £271 for holidays of seven nights or more.
The drop comes after two very strong years for domestic tourism.
ABTA blamed the fall on a prolonged cold spell followed by the ‘Beast from the East’ bringing snow to the UK in March, plus the World Cup.
But it said this summer’s heatwave is likely to provide a boost for UK tourism for next year.
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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