Abta estimates more than 4.5 million people from the UK will be taking an overseas trip over the August bank holiday as the sector returns to pre-pandemic levels.
Sunny beach destinations are the most popular choices, with most tourists heading to mainland Spain, the Balearics and the Canary Islands as well as Bulgaria, Portugal, Turkey, Morocco and Greece.
However, Abta said the rising cost of living is having a “significant” impact on people’s holiday habits.
More: Gatwick ground handlers call off bank holiday strike
Friday forecast as busiest day of year for outbound flights
An Abta survey carried out earlier this year found more than half were considering taking a holiday out of the peak season to get a cheaper deal (56%); and 54% were cutting back on other non-essential costs such as eating out, going to the cinema or buying.
Almost half were considering booking a last-minute holiday (47%), and a third cited putting money saved during the pandemic towards the cost of their trip (35%).
Graeme Buck, Abta’s communications director, said: “We’ve seen consistently high demand for foreign holidays this year, with many of our travel agent and tour operator members even reporting record-breaking sales.
“The pandemic paused lots of holiday plans over the last few years, so it’s clear that people see getting away this year as an absolute priority and some are even prepared to dip into their pandemic savings pots to make this happen.
“For those who haven’t yet managed to get away, we always advise booking with an Abta travel agent or tour operator to help your budget go further.
“Their expert knowledge means they can easily advise which destinations and style of trip will offer you the best value for money and they can often get you a better price than if you’d booked independently.”
Other tips for consumers include booking a package; considering cheaper alternative destinations; looking for different departure times; and opting for an all-inclusive.