Long-haul tourist costs rise by a quarter due to weak pound
The weakening of the pound has pushed up tourist costs in long-haul destinations by an average of 25%, according to the latest figures from the Post Office.
The latest Long Haul Holiday Report, based on data from Travelbag and cross-referenced with figures provided by local tourist offices, found the cost of tourist items, including meals and drinks, have jumped by a quarter since the impact of the Brexit vote.
But in 40% of resorts and cities surveyed, local prices have fallen below 2015 levels to cushion the negative impact of the falling pound.
Cape Town has emerged as the cheapest of 34 resorts and cities surveyed, replacing Bali which had been heralded the cheapest for the last three years.
At £48.89 for a ‘basket’ of 10 tourist items, the South African city was significantly cheaper than Bali (£62.56), where the cost of eating out has risen by over 50% in the past 12 months.
Just behind it in third place is Tokyo (£63.87), which has seen an 8% fall in local prices, cushioning the effect of a 24% surge in the yen’s value against sterling.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: "Costs may be higher in long haul holiday resorts this year for UK travellers but the good news is that local price cuts in many of the most popular ones will help to lessen the impact of the weaker pound."
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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