The proportion of Britons planning an overseas summer holiday has almost doubled in a year, according to research from a travel insurer.
AllClear Travel Insurance surveyed 2,016 adults about their upcoming overseas holiday plans and found 64% intended to go abroad this summer, compared to 34% last year.
Despite cost of living increases, the survey also found overseas travel is less likely to be affected by plans to trim spending.
Although 87% of people surveyed indicated they would be making cutbacks in the weeks ahead, just 25% said that would be reflected in their holiday spend, compared to 43% reducing spending on restaurants and eating out, and 42% reducing expenditure on clothes and luxuries.
Chris Rolland, chief executive of AllClear, said: “Travel disruption over Easter at airports was a headache for many, but it did indicate a level of pent-up demand for overseas travel, following two years of lockdown and travel restrictions.
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“The travel industry really needs a strong bounce-back and we’re already gearing up for a very busy summer period by significantly increasing our headcount to meet that demand.
“Cost of living hikes are yet another challenge but our research suggest that, for three in four people, holiday plans don’t appear to be in line for cutbacks. For many the wait for a decent holiday has been too long – they now just want to get away for that much-needed break.”
The bounce-back in demand was strongest in the regions, with adults in Wales planning an overseas summer holiday jumping to 62%, compared to 29% 12 months ago.
Similar increases were seen in Scotland, up to 67% from 37%, the northwest, up to 64% from 34%, and Yorkshire, which rose from 34% to 64%.
Resurgent travel demand for the summer period was seen among older travellers too, with 46% of over-65s planning a summer holiday abroad, up from 33% last year.