Britons are set to return to Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia in 2018 following years of concerns over political unrest and terrorism, according to new research from Abta.
The association’s annual Travel Trends report looks at the year ahead by drawing on market research from the previous year.
Early indications from the research suggest holidaymakers will start returning to destinations in the eastern Mediterranean.
Early-season bookings for Turkey for summer 2018 were up by 69% year on year – a rise that Abta described as “significant”.
Bookings for Egypt were 29% ahead of last year.
Tunisia is back on holidaymakers’ radars after the Foreign Office changed its advice warning against all but essential travel in July 2017, prompting several operators to start selling holidays to the North African destination.
The research also found that almost 70% of people think travel companies should ensure their holidays help local people and their economy.
Projects that give back to local communities and carbon-neutral group tours are predicted to become more popular.
Thomas Cook has already committed to removing animal excursions such as elephant rides and swimming with dolphins from the range of activities it offers.
Virgin Holidays will stop selling attractions or hotels that feature captive whales or dolphins.
More than half (56%) of the 25 to 34-year-olds surveyed said they used a travel professional to save time when booking a holiday.
The proportion of 18 to 24-year‑olds planning to take a cruise in 2018 dipped to 10%, compared with 11% this time last year and 12% in 2016. The fall is despite some lines taking strides to appeal to millennials, with Uniworld, for example, launching youth cruise brand U by Uniworld.