The Advantage Travel Partnership Announce Robust Easter Travel Bookings With Significant Growth In The Family Market And A Strong Momentum In Long-Haul Travel

Friday, Feb 28, 2025 0

Easter holiday bookings up by 15 percent compared to the same period last year.

Impressive growth in the family market with the percentage of bookings featuring at least one child increasing from 21 percent in 2024 to 25 percent this year.

Summer holiday bookings suggest a growing trend of families looking to get away during other times of the year, particularly during the Easter break for better deals and more suitable weather.

Strong momentum in long-haul travel across agency partners with a 5% shift from short-haul holidays to long-haul for this summer

The Advantage Travel Partnership has reported a strong surge in Easter holiday bookings this year, with bookings up by 15 percent compared to the same period last year. The family market has seen particularly impressive growth, with the percentage of bookings featuring at least one child increasing from 21 percent in 2024 to 25 percent this year. For Easter, the top winter sun destinations are Tenerife, Antalya and Costa Blanca and Orlando, Mexico and New York for long-haul.

In 2024 the family market was slower for summer holiday bookings and the same is appearing to be the case for summer holiday bookings this year suggesting that there is a growing trend of families looking to get away during other times of the year, particularly during the Easter break, to secure better deals. Additionally, there’s a growing wave of travellers seeking destinations that offer cooler temperatures, as traditional summer holiday hotspots have been experiencing hotter-than-ever conditions in recent years. This shift in preferences is contributing to the increase in popularity of Easter travel, as people are keen to avoid the sweltering summer heat while still enjoying a memorable holiday.

The Advantage Travel Partnership have also seen strong momentum in long-haul travel across its agency partners, with demand accelerating from January into February. The uptick in long-haul travel suggests that many families are discovering that long-haul destinations can be more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, particularly in regions like Thailand and the Far East, where local costs remain attractive.

As an example, two weeks staying in a four-star self-catering property in the Balearics in August for four people is £4,500. Whereby you could get a similar holiday in Thailand for the same price, whilst the cost of living when you are there is significantly lower. As a result of this Advantage says it is seeing a 5% shift from short-haul holidays to long-haul for this summer.

Kelly Cookes, Chief Commercial Officer of The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “It’s unsurprising that destinations such as Tenerife, Lanzarote and the Costa Blanca continue to be popular for Easter breaks as they can be reliably sunny and good value for travellers. They also offer a wide range of facilities and activities for all ages.

We often see people travelling slightly further afield to destinations such as Orlando earlier in the year to try and beat the summer crowds and queues and avoid the hotter summer months. We believe that Orlando will continue to be a destination to watch as it’s set to have a bumper year with the new Universal Park Epic Universe opening in May. Overall, the U.S. market is experiencing robust growth, with Orlando and New York leading the charge, however Nashville is also seeing rising interest, driven by the growing popularity of country music.

It’s interesting to see that long-haul is proving popular and we anticipate that the popularity of shows like White Lotus set in Thailand and Love Island All Stars filmed in South Africa will further fuel interest in these destinations for 2025 holidays.

We can expect to see cruise grow in popularity partially due to the continued growth of capacity in the sector with the introduction of additional ships. 2025 will be a big year with new ships across ocean, river and expedition cruising, with MSC, Uniworld, NCL, Celebrity Cruise, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages all bringing on new additions to their fleets.

For anyone looking to get away in the coming weeks or months we would always recommend booking with a travel agent. Agents have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience in searching for the best deals available. They are also best placed to help researching the ideal destination for every budget and ensuring you get the best value for your money.”