City breaks have overtaken beach holidays as the most popular type of holiday in the last year.
Abta research shows that 42% of people took a city break in the 12 months to July 2014, either in the UK or overseas, compared with 38% taking a beach holiday.
Both types of holiday were neck and neck in 2013, with 41% of consumers having taken a beach holiday and the same number having taken a city break.
The increase in popularity of city breaks is also supported by other data from Abta’s latest research which reveals a rise in the number of Brits taking a holiday overseas of 1-3 nights.
City breaks and beach holidays are set to go head-to-head as top choices in 2015. All-inclusives also look to cement a strong position, with one in five (20%) saying they may take an all-inclusive holiday in 2015.
Those in the 25-34 age range were the biggest fans of city breaks with half (50%) taking a city break in the 12 months to July, closely followed by 35-44 year olds (45%).
Beach holidays are popular across all age groups but particularly amongst younger holidaymakers, with nearly half of 16-24 year olds (45%) taking a beach holiday in the 12 months to July.
City breaks are also particularly popular with male travellers, with 45% taking one in the last 12 months compared to 39% of women.
There is a more pronounced gender split in numbers going away for stag and hen holidays. Men are more than twice as likely as women to head overseas for their pre-wedding party. Three per cent of men headed overseas for a stag party in the 12 months to July 2014 while just 1% of women did the same, suggesting that men are willing to invest more in their or their friends’ stag parties than women are.
Overseas stag and hen trips are most popular amongst 25-34 year olds, with 7% of men and 2% of women in this age group having partied overseas. Popular destinations for stags include Prague, Riga, Barcelona and Dublin.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Over the coming year, millions of people are set to enjoy trips abroad, as more traditional holidaymakers but also as outdoors enthusiasts, music lovers, sports spectators and as part of a wedding party.
“Abta holiday companies cater to any holiday aspiration and whilst 2015 looks to be dominated by the classic options of a city or beach break, significant numbers of people will be inspired by other holiday choices.”