Wildfires prompt a third of UK travellers to change plans, research suggests

A third of UK holidaymakers have changed their travel plans for August as a result of the wildfires in Europe, according to research by an insurance firm.

The survey, conducted by InsureandGo over the last month, found 35% had changed their plans for the month ahead, with the most-affected destination being Spain, followed by France, Turkey, Italy, Portugal and Greece.

More than two-thirds of respondents (65%) said they would be keeping their original plans, with 26% reporting they would be travelling to countries currently affected by wildfires.

Garry Nelson, head of corporate affairs at InsureandGo, said: “The preliminary findings from our new research paints a picture of both concern but also resilience.

“The scale of these changes to travel plans follows from our spring research which revealed that the majority of UK holidaymakers had booked summer holidays in Europe, with Spain, Italy and France among the most popular destinations.
 
“Set against that, very few people are cancelling holidays. Many are pivoting to new destinations or changing their dates, while the majority are keeping to their original plans.

“This does stress the importance of people taking practical steps to ensure their safety abroad for the month ahead.”

He said it was important to follow the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and recommended people to review their travel insurance policy to find out what is covered.

He added: “If a wildfire disrupts your trip, Natural Disaster Cover could help. It may provide cover for delayed or missed departures, or if you can’t access or stay in your booked accommodation.
 
“Remember, for cover to apply, you must have bought Natural Disaster Cover before the wildfire happened in that area.”

InsureandGo’s research found that the European destinations regarded by UK holidaymakers as the safest options include Iceland (22%), Switzerland (20%) and Sweden (20%), with some people looking further afield to Canada (19%) and New Zealand (17%).