Exclusive research for the 2025 Travel Weekly Insight Report suggests the strongest intention to take an overseas holiday among UK consumers since the survey began.
The research in early January found three out of five adults (59%) likely to book a holiday abroad this year, up nine percentage points on a year ago in what proved to be a record summer for departures.
The proportion ‘very likely’ to take an overseas holiday was up seven percentage points year on year at 36%.
Just over half those intending to travel (53%) expect to spend more on their holiday this year than last, although a similar proportion (54%) expressed more concern about holiday costs this year than previously.
A record 59% said they intend to book all-inclusive accommodation, up two percentage points year on year and nine points up on 2019.
All-inclusive demand appears especially strong among parents with children, with three out of four (77%) planning to book this accommodation.
The research also found a seven-point increase year on year to 39% in those planning an overseas beach holiday.
However, there was strong evidence of concerns about the cost of holidays.
Half (49%) cited price as the main factor when choosing a holiday, up seven percentage points on the last year. Almost two-thirds (64%) of those intending to take an overseas holiday said they would travel outside peak season, including 63% of parents with children.
Three out of five (58%) said they would seek cheaper flights or holidays this year than last, including 71% of those aged 25-44 who are the most likely to travel and 69% of parents with children.
Two out of five (40%) said they plan six nights or less for their main overseas holiday, as did half (51%) of parents, while 58% of parents and 46% of those intending to travel said they would book fewer holidays and short breaks this year than last.
The research by Service Science and Kantar was conducted on January 3-5 among 1,281 UK adults.
Service Science associate director Tom Costley hailed the “positive outlook” for the outbound sector, citing “significant increases” in intentions to travel that “exceed pre-Covid levels”, despite evidence of financial concerns.
The Travel Weekly Insight Report, produced in partnership with Deloitte, is available via travelweeklyinsight.co.uk