Latest holiday confidence survey is ‘encouraging’

Nearly two thirds of British holidaymakers are concerned about the threat of terrorism, but the majority have not let it dissuade them from travelling.

According to latest Holiday Confidence Index for Spring 2016 from First Rate Exchange Services, 46% of the 5,155 Brits polled said they have not made changes to their holiday destination because of terrorist acts.

This corresponded with 57% who said they are unlikely to change their holiday plans, which is 10% more than compared with winter 2015 and up 5% on spring 2015.

Over half (56%) of those questioned in the online survey said they intend to holiday overseas in the coming year, while fewer have yet to make a decision.

Some 52% of holidaymakers have already booked their first trip, while a third of those taking two or more trips have already arranged a second holiday.

This is a significant rise on spring 2015 when only 28% had committed to a second trip overseas.

Despite the fall of sterling and concerns about the impact on prices of a Brexit vote, 66% of holidaymakers intend to travel to Europe on their first trip abroad while 62% of respondents taking two or more trips are planning Eurozone trips for their second holiday.

In both cases, this represents a rise since last quarter and also year-on-year.

First Rate said the survey reveals an ‘encouraging stability in consumers’ appetite for overseas travel in the year ahead, despite the impact of the weaker pound on their pockets, the ongoing threat posed by terrorist attacks and a sharp fall in confidence about the UK economy’.

"The latest Holiday Confidence Index underlines a trend that we have been noticing for some time: namely that while there is growing uncertainty about the economy in general, this has not deterred those with a firm resolve to travel abroad on holiday from doing so," said Alistair Rennie, First Rate Exchange Services head of strategy and innovation.

"Not only have well over half of our survey sample confirmed that they will be travelling abroad, but this group is far more confident about the economy and their own personal finances. Nor will they let the falling value of sterling or the threat of terrorism put them off. This is encouraging news for the travel industry in uncertain times."

The survey was conducted in partnership with the Institute of Travel & Tourism, University of Wolverhampton and YouGov.