OTA’s UK bookings plummet after Brexit vote
Brexit has caused a drop in bookings to London and the UK, but an even bigger fall in Brits booking to go abroad, according to an online travel agent.
Tripsta, which claims to be one of Europe’s top five OTAs and the largest in South East Europe, said the political event had an immediate, detrimental impact on both inbound and outbound bookings.
It claimed European travel bookings to the UK capital and the UK dropped 28% and 27% respectively on June 24, the day the Brexit decision was announced.
During the two weeks that followed, the fall-off continued with London bookings down 35% on the same period in 2015.
But the impact on outbound bookings was even more significant, with bookings down 90% on June 24 and 69% in the two weeks that followed.
"The Brexit watchword has been uncertainty," said Tripsta CEO Philipp Brinkmann.
"This has left its mark on the stock market and we can see from our booking data that it is also impacting the UK, and especially London, as a travel destination.
"We serve millions of Europeans everyday and this is a significant drop in demand for London as a destination, which we see as perennially popular with our customers.
"This is not due to a new Brexit-inspired xenophobia, but a country in the midst of seismic political change is not appealing from a destination marketing point of view.
"We are confident travel to the UK and London will thrive again, but it is crucial stability is regained as soon as possible to minimise the damage done to the UK’s tourism industry.
" In terms of any wider impact on UK outbound travel, last minute flight bookings for the 2016 summer season will prove to be a key indicator."
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.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026