UK travel trends: Majority of consumers plan to travel this year

29.05.2024 - 13:00 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, 87% of UK consumers plan to travel this year, with a preference for UK breaks and short-haul holidays, reveals BDO’s latest survey.

The large majority of UK consumers are planning to travel this year despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, with UK breaks remaining slightly more popular than trips abroad, according to new UK travel trends research by business advisory firm, BDO.

The survey of 1000+ consumers aged 18+ gives cause for optimism for the travel sector after a challenging few years. The research reveals that almost nine in ten (87%) UK consumers plan to travel either abroad or in the UK this year.

Almost two thirds (63%) plan to travel within the UK and a similar number (61%) plan to travel abroad, while 36% of consumers intend to enjoy both domestic and international holidays – up from 33% last year.

Short-haul holidays are favoured by half (47%) of consumers. Nearly a quarter (24%) of those surveyed are planning long-haul trips.

The BDO research also found that consumers are intending to spend more on their trips, with a net increase of 12 percentage points in spending rate compared to last year.

Price rises are the most prevalent reason for those who plan to spend more, with 28% of consumers stating them as a contributing factor to increased spend on travel. A smaller number (13%) expect to spend more by eating out more frequently on holiday and 12% plan to do more activities.

The research also reveals that consumers are opting for more frequent but shorter holidays this year compared with last. The survey recorded a +5% net increase of people choosing to go on more holidays and a -2% decrease on the length of holidays.

This trend is driven by ‘Gen Z’ consumers, aged between 18-24, which showed a +21% net increase in the frequency of holidays this year compared to last. The Gen Z group’s travel intentions are also slightly higher than the overall sample, with 89% intending to travel this year.

In the UK, the most popular destinations for consumers include the South West of England (17%), followed by Scotland (12%) and London (11%).

For international holidaymakers, Spain is the most popular choice of destination (43%), followed by Greece and Italy (both 30%) and France (29%). A fifth (21%) of those travelling overseas intend to travel long-haul to the US.

Tom Holt, partner at BDO commented: “These results may come as a sigh of relief for those in the hospitality and leisure industry, and those in its supply chain, who we know have been disproportionately affected by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the more recent cost-of-living crisis.

“Due to challenging economic conditions, the competition for the consumer purse is incredibly tough, with our research