The UK’s traffic light system for categorising destinations has made more people decide to holiday in Britain rather than travel abroad this year, according to market research analyst Mintel.
The announcement of the system in April contributed to a decline in the proportion of UK adults intending to take an overseas holiday in 2021, Mintel reports.
More: Traffic light system deters would-be overseas travellers
Researchers noted a previous survey in January found UK travellers “still fairly optimistic about international travel in 2021, with most planning to go abroad for their main holiday” this year.
But since then Mintel noted: “The much more cautious approach from the UK government and a rise in cases in many European destinations has significantly impacted people’s confidence in international travel.
“The introduction of quarantine hotels, PCR tests for all arrivals and no clarity on the resumption of international travel have made more travellers change their mind on holidaying abroad.”
Mintel suggested the announcement of the UK’s traffic light system, which came into operation on May 17 with a limited green list of countries open to quarantine-free travel, “subdued the appeal of international travel, particularly among over-55s who are more likely to wait until restrictions are lifted”.
Portugal and the island of Madeira were the only major travel destinations on the initial green list of destinations.
Mintel found many of those planning a holiday have yet to book and don’t know when they will. In mid-April, only one in five (21%) of those planning to travel overseas had booked a holiday.
It suggested: “Most travellers are holding off booking until restrictions are lifted and/or the number of coronavirus cases in the UK has reached a very low level.”
However, Mintel did find significant growth in the proportion of respondents planning a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ once travel can resume more widely.
It’s latest research found that 17% of respondents intending to take an overseas trip plan a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ compared with 10% in a pre-pandemic survey in November 2018.
Marloes de Vries. Mintel associate director for travel said: “The traffic light system has made more people change their mind on travelling overseas.
“The number of bookings for UK domestic holidays has continued to increase, while those still open to travelling overseas are clearly waiting for more detail.”
However, she argued: “Should popular destinations appear on the ‘green list’ this will release a significant share of the pent-up demand.”
Mintel surveyed 2,000 UK adults aged 16 and over online in January, and 1,000 in March and April.
More: Traffic light system deters would-be overseas travellers