Brits determined to enjoy holidays as a third of the country plan to go abroad twice this year
Britons are determined as always to enjoy our holidays as a third of the country plan to go abroad twice this year despite the cost of living crisis
- Travel agencies have said there is little government involvement in the industry
- The average adult in the UK spends at least £200 on goods and services before a holiday
Despite the rise in interest rates and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the majority of UK holidaymakers will take at least two overseas trips by 2023, according to the trade body representing independent travel agents.
But Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, said the government still fails to recognize the importance of outbound travel to the UK economy.
“Our members received no support during the pandemic and even with travel spending almost back to pre-pandemic levels, there is still very little government involvement in the industry,” said Lo Bue-Said, speaking at Advantage’s annual conference in the Spanish resort of Benidorm.
“With the euphoria surrounding a positive trade environment, there is a risk that the travel industry’s resilience is also its weakness when it comes to government recognition and support.
And with the approaching general election, we run the risk that a government will now make decisions based on the voters going to the polls, not the needs of companies.
The majority of UK holidaymakers will make at least two trips abroad in 2023, according to the trade body representing independent travel agents
Despite the sector’s post-pandemic recovery, travel agents say the government is failing to recognize the importance of outbound travel to the UK economy
Advantage’s One Poll survey of 2,000 adults found that a third of respondents said they are planning two vacations this year.
Advantage Travel Partnership – representing 350 UK travel companies – recently joined forces with The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) to form a lobbying group to raise awareness of the industry.
“A senior government official recently told me they were surprised that travel agents in the High Street still exist,” said Lo Bue-Said.
“It’s not the first time we’ve heard this and it’s just not an option to let people who run the country think that way.”
Advantage Travel Partnership has also published research showing that the average adult in the UK spends at least £200 on goods and services before leaving the country to go on holiday.
It said the study, which covered purchases such as clothes and airport parking, refutes the theory that the outbound travel sector benefits foreign destinations more than the UK.
Advantage’s nationwide survey found that people in the North East spend the most on their pre-holiday purchases, spending an average of £220 before they leave the UK.