North America Ranks High When Brits Travel Again
Once travel restrictions are lifted in the United Kingdom and globally, Brits are planning to take to the road and North America is high on the list of destinations that they’re planning to head to, according to new research released by www.comparethemarket.com .
Along with looking a where British travellers will be going, the new study also investigates how attitudes towards holidays have changed since the start of the pandemic.
Given the number of holidays that have been cancelled or postponed, it’s unsurprising that 6 in 10 people (58%) are already dreaming about their next holiday abroad.
However, even after lockdown many people may need to wait for COVID-19 travel restrictions to be lifted and vaccinations to be rolled out before jetting off.
The top five destinations Brits wish to visit include:
- 1. Europe (59%)
- 2. North America (12%)
- 3. South-East Asia (6%)
- 4. Australia (5%)
- 5. South America (5%)
Not surprisingly, the research also reported that attitudes towards travel have changed, with the top three things that people are now considering when it comes to a holiday including:
- 1. Taking out the right level of travel insurance cover before travelling (40%)
- 2. Less inclination to visit countries that suffered badly during the pandemic (37%)
- 3. Taking further precautions while travelling, eg masks/bacterial gel/own food and drink (34%)
And although many Brits are eagerly awaiting their next holiday, when it comes to travelling comfortably in the future, taking safety measures is the top priority. What’s more, over a quarter (27%) of people state they’ll be more cautious about where they eat and drink once abroad, and 18% will choose self-catering.
Looking ahead, 22% of future holidaymakers are prepared to spend more money than usual when booking their next trip abroad to ensure they enjoy themselves. In contrast, 18% have said they look to spend less.
The research also reported that age matters with over half of Gen Z (57%), aged 18-24, are feeling optimistic about their travel plans with the top three holiday destinations on their list being:
- 1. Europe (55%)
- 2. South-East Asia (14%)
- 3. North America (10%)
Of note, as well, is that over half (58%) of those aged 65 plus say their attitude towards preferred holiday types has remained unchanged by the pandemic. Meanwhile, 18 to 24-year-olds are looking to explore new options with Gen-Z showing an increased interest in adventure holidays (24%), countryside breaks (22%), and beach holidays (22%)
And the study also found that 44% of those aged 65 plus said they’ll be more cautious about where they eat and drink compared to only 17% of millennials (aged 25-34).
When it comes to the holiday budget and the different age groups, 63% of millennials are the most likely to book in advance to save money and plan, whereas 35 to 44-year-olds are the most likely to book last minute to try and get the best possible deal (24%).
Commenting on the findings, Josh Daniels, head of travel insurance at www.comparethemarket.com , said: “Without a doubt, the pandemic has had a significant impact, especially within the tourism industry.”
Daniels continued: “Travel restrictions are in place and could be for quite some time depending on the vaccine roll-out and countries lifting restrictions. However, many of us are dreaming of being able to go on holidays abroad again and it’s reassuring to see that taking out the right level of cover before travelling is a priority for those looking to travel in the future.”
For more, go to https://www.comparethemarket.com/travel-insurance/content/post-covid-holiday-destinations/ .
