Travel customers are increasingly keen on spreading their payments for holidays, according to data from consumer polls and travel agents.
A snap YouGov poll of 1,200 people in Britain revealed 34% of respondents would be interested in being able to purchase a travel service and pay it off over time.
YouGov’s Eva Satkute Stewart said: “When countries lift restrictions on travel, prospective travellers may be looking for more ways to pay for – and afford – their holiday plans.”
She pointed out that many travel firms are offering flexible payment options, and reported a similar trend in the US.
YouGov data, found that 18% of Britons said the price for travel as an obstacle to booking. Satkute Stewart added: “For some travellers, financing a holiday can be a great choice if they have a vacation in mind and the means to pay for it at a later time.”
Not Just Travel said it has seen a surge in people booking via direct debit for holidays in 2022 and 2023 as opposed to ‘buy now pay later’ models with deposits and a full balance due.
The homeworking group said its average holiday booking price has risen by £1,000 during the pandemic, and reported strong sales into 2022 and 2023 as well as a trend of people buying travel insurance including Covid-19 cover.
Couples are booking a larger percentage of holidays via Not Just Travel agents than in the past, the group said, noting the US, Spain, Greece, Lapland and Turkey among its most popular destinations “despite messaging around a Great British Staycation”.
Not Just Travel said 38% of bookings were for 2021, from summer onwards, and the remaining 56% for 2022 and 6% for 2023.
Co-founder Steve Witt said: “We are seeing a big surge in people booking bigger holidays and paying on direct debit via small monthly instalments. And having something to look forward to makes being in lockdown feel a bit better.”