Two out of five UK adults are likely to book an overseas holiday in 2022 despite the continuing pandemic, according to exclusive consumer research for Travel Weekly.
But 56% remain sufficiently concerned about Covid-19 to be unlikely to take a holiday abroad while the virus remains a threat.
Half (47%) cited “changing UK travel restrictions” as their greatest concern when considering an overseas holiday and the same proportion cited confidence they would be refunded for a cancellation as the biggest factor when booking a holiday.
The survey of almost 1,300 UK consumers by Service Science and Kantar was conducted at the end of October and the results published in the Travel Weekly Insight Annual Report 2021-22, now available.
The research suggests one in five UK adults (22%) took at least one foreign holiday in the 12 months to October and half (52%) a domestic holiday. It found 38% ‘likely’ to take a holiday abroad in the next 12 months and 21% ‘very likely’. Of these, 42% had more to spend on holidays than pre-pandemic and 43% ‘about the same’.
The survey, carried out before identification of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, found two-thirds of respondents (64%) supported the UK’s travel requirements.
The risk of having to quarantine in a destination concerned two out of five respondents (39%), while having to pay for Covid tests to travel concerned three in 10 respondents (30%).
The research found little change in the likely choice of accommodation, duration of main holiday or method of booking since the onset of the pandemic, with all‑inclusive accommodation favoured by almost half (47%).
But the environmental impact of flying was the most prominent sustainability concern identified by holidaymakers for the first time – cited by one in four (24%).
Two-thirds of respondents (67%) were concerned about climate change, with two in five (39%) suggesting they would change their travel behaviour in some way as a consequence.
The Insight survey was conducted by Service Science/Kantar among 1,279 UK adults between October 28 and November 1.
Download your free copy of the report at travelweeklyinsight.co.uk