Almost two-thirds of Brits are planning to holiday overseas in the next 12 months, according to research released by Abta at The Travel Convention in Marrakech.
The association’s Holiday Habits 2022 report found 61% of the 2,000 respondents will travel abroad in 2023 and holidays remain a spending priority, despite increasing pressures on household finances.
The research found people are more likely to cut back on non-essential spending elsewhere, such as eating out (55%), leisure activities (48%) and clothes, shoes and accessories (40%), before they’ll cut back on their holidays (35%).
However, many people do expect to make some changes to their travel plans to meet the rising cost of living.
More: Ski specialists report no impact from cost-of-living crisis
Travel Counsellors reports bookings surge despite cost of living concerns
The top three ways people plan to reduce their holiday costs are by taking fewer holidays (36%), opting for cheaper travel and transport options (28%) and eating out less while away (23%), while only 14% of people say they won’t go away at all – which drops to just 4% of those who travelled in the last year.
Almost a third (31%) said they will spend more on holidays next year; 46% say they will spend the same; and 23% will spend less.
The report also reveals that 45% of people travelled abroad in the 12 months to August 2022, equivalent to 70% of people who took a foreign holiday in 2019.
The association said this a “significant proportion of people” given that UK travel restrictions were lifted only in March 2022.
Also, more people booked with a travel professional this year than in 2019 – 36% compared with 34% – with a notable rise in demand from young families and young people.
More than half of those with young families (54%), and 25–34-year-olds (55%), booked in this way, both an increase on 2019 – 36% and 38% respectively.
Of all those choosing to book with a travel professional, the ease of booking was their main motivation (44%), followed by having someone to help and support if something goes wrong (35%).
Packages were the most popular way to travel on an overseas holiday, with almost two-thirds (63%) of holidaymakers taking this type of trip.
Being the best value option for the price (34%), having everything taken care of (29%) and booking an all-inclusive holiday (28%) were the top reasons why people took a package holiday.
The report also reveals that the pandemic will lead to longstanding changes in how holidaymakers organise their travel, with many taking steps to bring extra reassurance to the process.
These include taking out a good travel insurance policy (71%), paying closer attention to terms and conditions (63%) or making sure they book with an Abta member (61%).
Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “The lifting of the UK’s travel rules this year unleashed a surge in overseas holidays, with almost twice as many people travelling abroad in the six months from March to August 2022 (38%), than in the previous six months (21%).
“Given how much these restrictions had dampened demand, it’s quite remarkable to see foreign holiday taking already reaching 70% of 2019 levels, which was in itself a bumper year for travel, in such a short space of time.
“We now face an uncertain year ahead given the cost-of-living challenges, but Abta’s research suggests that we should continue to see an increase in foreign holidays next year and, encouragingly, many of our members have also been reporting a high level of demand for bookings.
“As our Holiday Habits 2022 report shows, people have found comfort in the security of booking a package holiday and accessing the expertise of travel professionals. It remains to be seen whether this will continue as a firm trend in 2023 but, if it does, it may prove a rare positive legacy of the pandemic for Abta members.”
The report also revealed that Spain remains the most popular among respondents, visited by 31% of them. France was second (20%), followed by the US and Italy (both on 12%).
Just over a third (35%) of people have cruised, with big growth seen in the family market, thanks largely to the ‘seacation’ factor with domestic cruises in summer 2021.
More: Ski specialists report no impact from cost-of-living crisis
Travel Counsellors reports bookings surge despite cost of living concerns