People feel it is safer to travel abroad for the first time in six months, new research reveals.
Results of the DFDS poll of 2,000 UK travellers show a third now think they will travel within the next three months.
Germany was next closest to the UK results in terms of optimism with a similar pattern of results over the last few months.
The majority in the UK plan on booking this month, possibly reflecting ongoing uncertainty about which countries will be on amber and green lists for permitted travel and quarantine.
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However, 15% of UK respondents have now already booked compared to 25% in Germany, with over 10% fewer saying this in the Netherlands and France.
August and September are also popular choices for booking months across the countries.
Less than 20% in most countries say they will book earlier now than they would have previously.
More than 45% in each country say they will book closer to the departure date, with the rest saying Covid-19 has not changed how early or late they plan on booking their holiday.
Asked if they would be more or less likely to travel abroad by ferry than before Covid-19 more than 30% of UK respondents say they are more likely to than before the pandemic. The most common reason for being more likely to travel by ferry continues to be because people can take their car.
Those who feel optimistic heavily outweigh those who feel pessimistic and the majority feel the same or optimistic regarding their household finances.
Most respondents think it will take at least a year for life to return to normal with around 40% of UK customers thinking it will take more than a year.
The majority of UK respondents were more than 55 years old – 29% 55-64 years and 36% 65-74 years.
The survey was sent to DFDS customers in the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, France, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Sweden and Norway.
The ferry company has been carrying out a travel intention tracker each month across the ten European countries since last November to follow the development of its customers’ desire to travel and their plans for traveling now and in the future.
More: Most Scots feel ‘safe’ travelling abroad, new poll finds