Swine flu poll reveals diverging attitudes
Brits are more determined than their European neighbours not to let swine flu ruin their holiday plans, according to a new survey.
Internet media company, Travelzoo, conducted a poll last week of 10,582 travellers in 24 regions across the UK, Germany, France and Spain.
The survey results reveal vastly diverging attitudes towards swine flu.
It found just 7% of Brits said they would change their travel plans because of it, compared to 21% of Spaniards, 15% of Germans and 14% of French.
In the UK, those living in the North West are least concerned about the impact on their travel plans (5%), while residents of Northern Ireland are the most concerned (12.5%).
In London and the South East, 8% say they will change their travel plans because of swine flu.
Respondents in sunnier regions such as the Canaries, South of Spain and the Balearics are most likely to change their travel plans because of swine flu – 28%, 24% and 19% respectively.
“A number of surveys have revealed that Britons will not give up their holiday or travel plans, despite the risk of swine flu, but this is the first to show just how important that aspect of our life is, compared to other Europeans,†said Stephen Dunk, Travelzoo UK spokesman.
“The survey results correlate strongly with data we have about demand for travel deals abroad.”
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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