Exclusive research reveals impact of war on Britons’ holiday plans

Up to 40% of holidaymakers intending to travel abroad over the Easter holiday are changing their plans, according to exclusive research for Travel Weekly at the weekend.

The findings suggest consumer intentions to travel this summer remain strong, but attention has switched sharply away from travel to and transit via the Middle East.

The Harris Poll UK, a Stagwell company, conducted a survey of 1,000 UK adults to gauge their immediate travel intentions and confidence in travelling for the rest of the year as well as confidence in travel to and transit via the Gulf.

The results suggest only a minority are cancelling and significant numbers plan to travel over Easter, but there is growing caution around booking despite a great many intending to take an overseas holiday before the summer is out.

Almost a third (31%) reported having an overseas holiday or short break booked in the next four to six weeks. An additional 17% said they planned a trip abroad but had not finalised it and 15% were ‘considering’ travelling.

Although only 2% had cancelled, 40% said their plans had changed: 10% reported delaying booking; 10% had decided not to travel for now; 11% were considering travelling closer to the UK; 8% were changing their travel dates; and 6% were changing their destination. Some gave more than one response on how their plans had changed. 

Almost half (47%) cited international tensions as the key reason, 34% the risk of flight disruption and 29% safety concerns. Almost a third (31%) expressed concern at rising travel costs.

Yet a majority remain ‘likely’ to travel abroad this summer, with 33% ‘very likely’ to do so by October and 42% ‘very likely’ within the next year, although 29% said they would ‘be more cautious’ where they go, with 27% ‘much more likely’ to holiday in the UK and 17% ‘much more likely’ to take a short-haul holiday.

The Harris Poll UK managing director Sarah Beams said: “Consumers are not abandoning the idea of international travel but are postponing decisions while monitoring global developments and gravitating towards perceived lower-risk options, with many respondents indicating a shift towards trips that feel more predictable or easier to manage.

“Short-haul travel is becoming more attractive. In contrast, willingness to take long-haul trips or cruises has weakened, consistent with a broader trend towards caution and reduced exposure to disruption.”

She noted: “Confidence in travel to or via the Gulf region remains particularly fragile.”

Almost four in 10 (38%) said they would prefer to wait until the war is “fully resolved” before considering travel to the Gulf, while one in five said they would not travel to the region at all. Only 8% said they would be ‘very comfortable’ to take a holiday in the region when the war is over.

Looking to the summer, Beams said: “The data points to a market in which people remain interested in going abroad but are waiting for greater certainty before finalising plans.”

● The survey, by The Harris Poll UK on behalf of Travel Weekly, was conducted on March 14‑15 among a representative sample of 1,000 UK adults.