The number of people using tablets to book holidays will continue to escalate in 2013, a study by Thomson and First Choice predicts.
The Tui Travel operators say this is a clear emerging trend with an average of 3,000 bookings made a month by customers using a mobile device and traffic to the Thomson & First Choice website from iPads alone increasing at a rate of 437% every year.
Research by the sister operators found that sources of holiday inspiration shifted in 2012 due to social networking.
Nearly a third (30%) of those polled admitting that pictures posted by their friends on Facebook and Twitter were a key influence when deciding on their next holiday destination.
Almost one in 10 (7%) of those questioned also said they regularly ask social network users for holiday advice, a figure which Thomson predicts is likely to grow in 2013 as the number of people using Facebook and Twitter continues to increase.
The average UK holidaymaker will spend a minimum of eight hours researching their holiday online, with 35% admitting to spending more than 24 hours on their PC, laptop or tablet to find the perfect trip.
The three generation holiday trend is expected to continue to grow in 2013, according to the research.
The operators found that more than half of Britons (58%) have travelled abroad with their parents in the past year with a third (38%) of holidaymakers also taking their children.
Most say a family holiday allows the different generations to spend time together in a relaxed environment (68%) and nearly a quarter (23%) of those surveyed, confess to inviting their parents on holiday just to help look after the children.
A new trend for more active getaways also emerged following 2012’s summer of sport.
A third (34%) of holidaymakers said they were planning to or had taken up a sport following the Olympics, a trend reflected in the increased number of holidaymakers signing up for sports courses at Thomson’s Sensatori resorts.
Early bookings for 2013 indicate that the destination hotspots for Brits next year are:
For Winter 2012/13:
• Short-haul: Alicante, Malaga, Madeira
• Medium-haul: Tenerife, Sharm El Sheikh, Lanzarote
• Long-haul: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica
For Summer 2013:
• Short-haul: Majorca, Ibiza, Minorca
• Medium-haul: Turkey (Dalaman), Sharm El Sheikh, Cyprus (Paphos)
• Long-haul: Florida, Mexico, Dominican Republic
Thomson and First Choice marketing director Jeremy Ellis said: “Throughout 2012 we’ve been keeping a close eye on how our customers research and book their holidays and what they want to do when they get there.
“Whilst we don’t know for certain what 2013 will hold, we’ve been working hard to ensure that all our customers will enjoy expertly designed holidays that meet their every need.”