By Jack Mendel
The lifting of pandemic travel restrictions has given rise to a ‘catch-up’ traveller, booking nicer hotels and spending more money on trips abroad.
A new report from British travel association group ABTA showed almost 50 per cent of holiday-makers will make up for trips they missed out on during the pandemic.
61 per cent of people say they plan to go abroad next year, up four per cent from 2020.
Almost half of those surveyed in the Holiday Habits research said travel limits made holidays more important than before, which substantially rises to 65 per cent for big families.
For those going on holiday post-pandemic, 46 per cent will spend more money, up from 29 per cent in 2020.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said the main driver behind holiday-makers going away post-pandemic was consumer confidence.
In particular, he cited the “simplification and relaxation of requirements for fully vaccinated travellers that has helped people feel more positive about travel”.
“. Winter sun and winter sports breaks are both selling well, as holidaymakers jump at their chance to enjoy a well-deserved break.”
The ABTA report also cited members including tour operators Jet2holidays, TUI, Travelbag and Barrhead Travel, who outlined many tourists are now “catching up” by treating themselves.
Some are likely to upgrade their hotel while others extend their stay or even go for a more expensive or luxurious destination.
Brits are also due to travel further afield with almost 40 per cent saying they’d probably go to somewhere new, including the Caribbean and Maldives.
With each country having different coronavirus protocol, those surveyed are 30 per cent more likely to urn to a travel agent for expert facie, while 47 per cent say Covid concerns are the main reason, followed by the security of the package holiday, at 46 per cent.
Surprisingly, younger people are also likely to use an agent to book, with 66 per cent of 18-24 year-olds saying they’d do so, than from before the pandemic.
The report suggests both a surge in use of travel agents and the use of package holidays, as consumers seek stronger protections, especially from coronavirus-related rules.
Hays Travel reported that more than half of its business came from new customers since April 2021, as well as 60 per cent of Ingham’s.
ABTA showed consumers want added protection from package holidays, almost 80 per cent said knowing it was regulated was important, with holidaymakers 30 per cent more likely to book a package than pre-pandemic.
The research also shows a new trend of cruises becoming more popular, in what have been dubbed ‘seacations’.
MSC Virtuosa reported that almost half of its guest over the summer were new customers, with more than 35 per cent of respondents saying they’ve now been on a cruise.
Tanzer said while the boost for travel was welcome, “we’re not out of the woods yet, and we still need the Government to continue working towards making travelling abroad simpler.”
“But, after a turbulent couple of years, and assuming there are no unexpected developments to come with Coronavirus, the signs are that an increasing number of people will be taking a long overdue overseas holiday next year. If so, we seem to be at the first stage of a meaningful recovery for the sector.”
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