Proportion of Brits planning an overseas summer holiday doubles in a year

Last updated on June 28th, 2023 at 09:10 am

The number of Britons planning an overseas summer holiday has almost doubled since this time last year. Demand is rising from 34% to 64% in 12-months, according to new tracking research from AllClear Travel Insurance.

AllClear’s latest figures suggest demand and appetite to travel abroad is set to rise steeply in the months ahead. People are desperate to get away for a proper holiday after two years of lockdowns and travel restrictions.

The latest travel trends research

As an integral part of its research that tracks travel trends over time, AllClear asked a representative sample of 2,016 adults about their overseas holiday plans for this summer and compared results to a similar survey conducted this time last year. The results have given the strongest indication yet of just how much traveller confidence has returned in the last year.

Key findings:

Most popular types of holiday planned for summer 2022

Relaxing in the sun is top of the list for holidays this summer. Twice as many people this year want a relaxing beach holiday abroad (29%, up from 15% this time last year). The percentage of people wanting a pampering hotel break by the pool has also doubled (rising from 10% to 20%). Adventurous holidays this summer are second to the simple holiday pleasures that many people have so evidently missed.

Who is planning to travel the most this summer?

Resurgent travel demand for the summer period is also strong among older travellers. 46% of over 65-year-olds planning a holiday abroad this summer – up from 33% last year. The sentiment was very much the same for those declaring a pre-existing medical condition. 58% looking forward to an overseas holiday this summer.

Regionally, people in Greater London were most likely to be planning an overseas summer holiday this year (78%). The biggest bounce-back in overseas travel is in Wales (up from 29% to 62%), Scotland (37% to 67%), the North West (34% to 64%) and Yorkshire (34% to 64%).

The cost of living crisis and summer holiday plans

AllClear’s research suggests the pent-up demand for overseas travel has not been seriously compromised by recent cost-of-living hikes that many households have had to deal with. Whilst 87% of people surveyed indicated they would be making cutbacks in the weeks ahead; holidays were not first in line for attention. Spending on clothes and luxuries (42%), restaurants and eating out (43%) emerged as the key areas where people would prune their spending before considering cuts to food shopping (24%) and holiday spending (25%). This trend was consistent across all age groups.

Chris Rolland, CEO at AllClear, commented: “Cost of living hikes are yet another challenge, but our research suggests that, for three in four people, holiday plans don’t appear to be in line for cutbacks. The wait for a decent holiday has been too long for many – they now just want to get away for that much-needed break. At AllClear, we are committed to making travel safe for everyone – and for anyone worried about safety abroad. We’re here to help.”

Are you planning a sunny escape this summer?

If you’re thinking of taking a trip, now is the time to start planning. No matter where you choose to go, you’ll need comprehensive Travel Insurance to protect yourself and your trip. As a Specialist Medical Travel Insurance provider, we cover all medical conditions so that you can travel with confidence.

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