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Holidays are a basic necessity, finds YouGov survey
Holidays remain a basic necessity for the majority of Brits, according to the latest survey by YouGov.
Of the 2057 adults questioned, 65% of consumers said they are planning to take a holiday of five days or more in 2012, with the remaining 35% not planning any holidays.
This was exactly the same result as last year’s survey.
Of those planning to take a holiday, 49% plan to go abroad once or more, while 29% are planning to holiday in the UK once or more.
When asked to think about the current financial climate and how this will impact their holiday plans for next year Brits are largely cautious. The survey found:
– 26% agreed that they were concerned but still planning to take a holiday
– 18% indicated they were concerned and will wait until closer to the time to book their holiday
– 6% said they were not concerned and have already booked their holiday.
Tony Mooney, business development director at First Data Merchant Solutions, said: “Following Thomas Cook’s share price dip last month and the expected wider economic contraction in 2012 it is fair to say the travel industry is expecting sales to fall dramatically next year.
“However, Tui Travels profitability and the results of our consumer survey suggest it might not be that bad. Despite the ongoing austerity consumers are continuing to spend on the basics, for which the annual holiday remains included.”
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer added: "Household budgets are feeling the pinch but for years we have seen that holidays are the last to be cut back in tough times.
“ABTA's own research has shown that people would rather cut back on eating out or home improvements than give their holiday the chop.
“When there is lots of doom and gloom in the economy, a holiday gives people something to look forward to. Destinations including Spain, Turkey and the USA look set to be popular with holiday makers in 2012 and we're also likely to see tourists returning to places like the Red Sea area in Egypt, and other parts of North Africa, where there are lots of high quality and good value holidays on offer."
by Bev Fearis
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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