The majority of UK travellers (80%) are trying to ring-fence spending for holidays this year, according to new research.
Overall, 34% of those planning to go away say they will be taking more holidays than in 2022.
But a quarter will be taking fewer breaks. Among the minority (20%) of those not planning to go away, a lack of disposable income (66%) alongside the cost of living crisis and inflation specifically (48%) were the key reasons.
These are the UK findings of Marriott Bonvoy’s 2023 travel trends study, which analysed the 2023 travel plans of 14,000 travellers across Europe and the Middle East.
Consumers are being smarter in the ways they are planning to save so they can safeguard their holiday.
As many as 42% plan to travel at different times of the year, while 35% will make do with the clothes they wore on holiday last year.
More than a quarter (28%) would opt for a less expensive destination, while 27% would consider cheaper accommodation.
Some say they would be prepared to share a room with other people they are travelling with (15%) while 20% of parents would share a room with their children rather than getting them their own room.
Data on hotel bookings from Marriott Bonvoy shows a return of confidence to book further ahead for travellers from the UK.
Hotel bookings from the UK in October for 61-180 days ahead were up 79% compared to the same month in 2021. November figures were up 52%.
Marriott International Europe, Middle East & Africa chief sales and marketing officer Neal Jones said: “Travel trends for 2023 are more interesting than ever due to the unique situation we are in, as we look ahead to the way consumers plan to travel this year.
“What comes across very clearly is a resurgence in the sector based in large part on increased confidence amongst travellers in the UK market, with four in ten planning to spend more than last year.
“This clearly shows great optimism, but also that people will be ring-fencing holiday spending. Perhaps as a sign of the times, travellers will be focusing their spending on the core elements of their trip – accommodation, travel and destination – but will take a more conservative approach to spending on less vital elements of the holiday, such as presents or new clothes.
“We are also seeing other, existing trends come into sharper focus. I’m delighted to see the priority that so many UK travellers are putting on sustainability, with most taking it into consideration and many shaping their holidays around this.
“The pandemic also hastened the increase in remote working and it is clear that many plan to take advantage of this, using the opportunity to get away without taking annual leave.”