Two out of five UK consumers planning an overseas holiday this year are concerned about the cost of Covid tests and almost one in three will wait for vaccination certificates to be recognised before booking a holiday, according to research for Travel Weekly.
However, one in seven appear ready to pay whatever it costs for Covid tests in order to travel.
The survey of almost 1,300 UK adults by Service Science and Kantar found 29% would only travel once fully vaccinated and vaccination certificates or ‘passports’ for travellers recognised. The proportion keen to wait for vaccination certificates was unsurprisingly low among young adults at 11% but neared half (44%) among those in middle age (45-64).
One in four respondents (23%) said the cost of tests would be “an important factor” in deciding whether to take an overseas holiday and an additional 15% of those intending to travel said the cost of tests “will stop me taking an overseas holiday”.
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Covid-testing costs were of most concern to younger adults intending to travel, with 40% of 16-24-year-olds and 48% of those aged 25-34 expressing concern or saying they would not travel while costs remain as they are. By contrast, just 31% of those over 44 were concerned about the costs.
One in five would-be holidaymakers aged 25-34 (21%) said they would not travel with costs at the current rate.
At the same time, the youngest adults and those in early middle age were most likely to say they would travel no matter the cost – with 22% of 16-24-year-olds and 17% of those aged 45-54 doing so.
Parents intending to travel with children were more likely to register concern about the costs of testing (43%) than those without (35%).
Service Science and Kantar polled 1,278 UK adults on behalf of Travel Weekly on May 4-6 and found almost one in three (31%) intend to travel overseas on holiday by next April.
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