Only 4% of Brits who went on holiday this year say they don’t plan to travel again in the next 12 months, according to ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits report.
Of those who did go on holiday, the majority expect to spend the same amount or more, despite the cost of living crisis.
However, 35% of the 2,000 people questioned in the survey in August said they’re likely to cut back on their holiday spend next year because of rising household bills.
Of those who plan to cut back, 36% said they would take fewer holidays, 28% said they would take cheaper trips and 23% said they would eat out less while away.
Some 22% said they would book cheaper accommodation, 19% said they would only holiday in the UK, 19% will travel to closer destinations and 17% will do fewer activities.
The survey also found that 63% of customers will pay more attention to terms and conditions of their booking and 61% plan to book with an ABTA member for ease and reassurance.
There was a slight increase in the number of people who booked with a travel professional this year than in 2019, with a notable rise in demand from young families and young people.
More than half of those with young families (those with at least one child under five) and 25–34-year-olds booked in this way, both an increase on 2019 (36% and 38% respectively).
Of those choosing to book with a travel professional, ease of booking was their main motivation (44%), followed by having someone to help and support if something goes wrong (35%).
Almost two-thirds (63%) of holidaymakers booked a package, with one in three saying it offered the best value and a similar number saying they liked the fact everything was taken care of.
Sustainability is also a key concern for customers, according to the survey, which found that 41% of people will choose one company over another with better sustainability, up from 19% in 2011.
“It is a firm fixture in people’s minds when they are planning their holidays, especially after the pandemic,” said an ABTA spokesperson.
The ABTA Holiday Habits report was released at the ABTA Convention, taking place in Marrakech, Morocco this week.
