Half of Brits (47%) have not visited a travel agent in the past 10 years, while two in 10 have never visited an agency and less than one in seven booked their last holiday in one, according to new research.
The study, conducted by travel search engine Kayak.co.uk, found 20% of adults say they have never been inside a travel agent branch.
Amongst under 35s, the figure rises to 33% and increases to a 70% for under 25s. The average Brit last visited a travel agency six and a half years ago.
Nearly three quarters (73%) say they booked their last holiday online, 4% of which booked it on their phone, rising to 7% for under 35s.
The research reveals that less than one in seven holidaymakers (14%) booked their last holiday in a travel agent branch.
For under 35s, the figure falls to one in 10 (11%) and for under 25s, the figure is just six per cent.
Half of those surveyed who booked online said they did so because it was easier.
A third (31%) said they could find everything a travel agent has online, while 22% said they thought travel agents were more expensive.
Just 18% of Brits have been into a travel agent in the past year – either to book or to simply get advice. Of these, 38% said they talk to someone in person, while 25% feel more ‘reassured’ if someone else books it for them.
However, 15% admitted they just liked the experience and 13% went as far as to say they simply like the attention they get from those who work there.
