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City or beach this winter?
Beach holidays have grown in popularity for this winter, according to research from ABTA.
Although city breaks have overtaken beach holidays to be the most popular type of holiday throughout the year, sunshine is still the preferred choice for the winter.
ABTA found 43% of people planning a winter break are heading to warmer climes this year, up from 40% last year.
Meanwhile 35% of the 2001 Brits who took part in the survey are off on a city break, down from 39% in 2013.
A further 18% are planning a winter sports holiday, with an increase in numbers since 2012.
ABTA believes this is due in part to so-called ‘lapsed skiers’ planning a return to the slopes as the economy recovers.
In all, ABTA forecast that over 12 million people are set to take a winter holiday during the coming months, with similar numbers still considering their travel plans.
Brits aged 25-34 are the most likely to take a winter holiday, with 27% stating that they will take one.
They’re followed by the over 65s (24%), suggesting that winter breaks are most popular with people who more likely to able to holiday off-peak.
For winter sun, popular destinations include The Canary Islands and North African countries including Tunisia and Morocco.
Antigua, The Maldives, Mexico and Thailand are among the most popular long haul winter sun destinations.
Favourite European destinations are Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and Vienna with London, Edinburgh and the Frankfurt Market in Birmingham all popular in the UK.
Winter sports holidays are most popular with younger travellers and people aged 16-24 are over twice as likely to be taking one.
The research found 39% of 16-24 year olds planning a winter holiday will take a winter sports holiday.
Consumer research was conducted by Arkenford Ltd in July 2014.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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