WTM Survey: 4 in 10 Brits Can’t Wait to Book a Holiday Abroad

Photo: GTP

Four in 10 Brits are holding out for an overseas holiday this year, with younger generations being more likely to choose a package holiday than book a DIY (do it yourself) trip, according to exclusive research by WTM London.

The survey showed that nearly 38 percent of people are planning to book an overseas holiday in 2021, with the UK government’s Global Travel Taskforce report expected to be announced on April 12.

According to the WTM London research, 25 percent of respondents are only interested in taking a holiday abroad, while 13 percent plan to take both an overseas vacation and a staycation after months of being stuck at home.

Of the remainder, 40 percent are planning a UK-based holiday, with 21 percent not planning a holiday at all.

The age groups that are holding out a holiday abroad, and – therefore – most likely to book are the:

• 16-24s (32 percent of whom can’t wait to go abroad this year);
• followed by the 25-34s (29 percent);
• the 35-44s (28 percent) and
• the 45-54s (25 percent ).

By contrast, the number of people in the 55+ age group, who are holding out for an overseas holiday, is just one in five (21 percent).

High demand for package holidays

Photo Source: @FEG Tourist Guides

The package holiday seems to be making a resurgence among the under 45s, with younger people being more cautious, perhaps because of concerns over losing money or finding it difficult to rebook if Covid-19 forces travel plans to change.

In fact, the under 25s surveyed are more than twice as likely to choose a package than those aged 55 and over (26 percent), proving that older is not necessarily wiser when it comes to being prepared for the unexpected in a Covid-19 world.

The research also shows that more women are likely to book a package holiday than men (46 percent to 35 percent).

The research was conducted by Opinion Matters on 2,006 nationally representative respondents during March 3-5.