News

Safety and financial worries ‘impacting’ family holiday destination choices

Terrorism, health scares and political trouble abroad will affect families’ choice of holiday destination next year, new research reveals.

Safety worries, as well as a cautious financial outlook, will impact where people choose to holiday in 2017 and how much they spend.

Anxieties about Brexit and the impact on travel in Europe are also revealed in the study of 1,336 people by family travel website FamilyBreakFinder.

Egypt emerged as the destination most British families would avoid, followed by Tunisia, Turkey, Brussels, Dubai, Paris, Germany, Greece, Florida and London.

Half of those deciding to stay in the UK for their holidays next year have been influenced by events abroad.

And half of Britons have become nervous about air travel and using the Channel Tunnel.

Most families expect to spend less or the same on travel next year – only 21% expect to increase their budget for holidays and breaks.

Atol protection has become more important for 61% of family travellers following the collapse of Lowcost Holidays.

Half of all British families will stay at a UK campsite or holiday park in 2017 – and 31% want to experience ‘glamping’. One in ten families plan to rent accommodation via Airbnb in 2017.

Anticipating Brexit, the most worrying aspects for respondents are higher air fares (68%) and the loss of the European Health Insurance Card (63%).

Duty free limitations (23%) and hostility from other nationalities abroad (36%) are the least worrying aspects of the UK leaving the EU for holidaymakers.

Donald Trump is the politician most Britons would not want to sit next to on a flight.

FamilyBreakFinder founder and managing director, Dominic Sawyer, said: “As a publisher of daily travel deals, and through our large social media fanbase, we’ve noticed a surge of interest in domestic holidays and short breaks. Our members are very interested in luxury camping right now, with our UK yurt and tipi offers outstripping many of our Med holidays.

“For those members that are looking for holidays abroad, Spain and Portugal remain stable and solid performers.

“The likes of Turkey and Egypt are completely unsellable, and even places like Greece and Croatia have lost popularity.

“What’s a little surprising from this research is that Dubai, which has traditionally been a top destination for Brits, appears to have really fallen out of favour.”

He added: “Financially, these have been a tough times for most UK families and value-for-money will continue to be a top priority.

“Naturally, when it comes to Brexit, it’s the impact on travel costs that concerns families most, with higher air fares and the loss of free healthcare the biggest worries. Few seem to care what our European neighbours think of us post-referendum.

“It’s a good job for airlines that Donald Trump travels by private jet; they would face many complaints from UK family travellers given a seat alongside him.”

Find further information on the research here

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.