Families are increasingly turning to agents and operators to help with holiday bookings in the wake of the pandemic, according to Abta.
The UK’s relaxation of travel rules from today (Friday February 11) will see “hundreds of thousands” of people travel abroad this half term, the association said.
The removal of all tests for fully vaccinated adults and under 18s on return to the UK makes foreign travel much easier, including significant savings on the cost of tests.
Abta sees this as an important next step in the industry’s recovery.
Not being able to holiday abroad has ramped up families’ appetite for travel, according to new data from the association.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of families with children under 16 say the limited opportunities to travel due to the pandemic have made their holidays more important to them than before – higher than all other groups, including young people and over 45s with no children at home.
At the same time, families are increasingly keen to enlist the help of a travel agent or tour operator.
Those with children under 16 are 50% more likely to book with a travel professional now than before the pandemic – compared with 30% more likely for the population as a whole. This is primarily for the security of a package holiday (43%), followed by guidance with Covid-19 travel requirements (35%).
February half term is the first opportunity families have had since the start of the pandemic to travel abroad with minimal UK government rules and restrictions for the fully vaccinated, although other countries still have their own entry requirements and local measures to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Turkey, Canary Islands, Egypt and Portugal are popular for short haul trips, while departures to Dubai, Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean have sold well for longer haul holidays, agents report.
Resorts in France, Italy and Switzerland are also popular for those taking ski breaks.
A snapshot of some of the UK’s biggest airports shows 200,000 passengers are set to depart from Stansted between February 11-18, 186,000 from Gatwick, 160,000 from Manchester, 90,000 from Luton, 55,000 from Bristol and 17,000 from East Midlands.
More than 125,000 travellers are booked to travel with Eurostar between the UK and the continent during the school holiday.
Abta communications director Graeme Buck said: “Today’s changes to the travel rules are the start of a new chapter for the travel industry’s recovery.
“Testing has been one of the biggest barriers to travel, so it’s hugely welcome that the process of travelling abroad is now much cheaper and easier for millions of UK holidaymakers.
“It’s great to see so many families treating themselves to some quality time together this February half term and now that the UK’s restrictions have eased, we expect many more will feel confident to travel and will start to plan their summer break.
“We expect to see increasing numbers of people turning to travel professionals to help them plan their trips, as they recognise their invaluable knowledge of the latest travel requirements and their expertise in finding the best holiday for them at a competitive price.”
“Some popular European holiday destinations require tests or have bans on the entry of children in some age groups who have not been vaccinated so it’s especially important that families check the rules with the FCDO [Foreign Office] but also their airline who will ultimately decide who can travel.
“There is still a risk of Covid causing disruption to travel, so it is important to book with an airline or accommodation provider with a flexible booking policy to safeguard your money.