A report by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that in the three months prior to August the number of foreign holidays taken by British tourists went down by 4%. In addition the report, entitled ‘Overseas Travel and Tourism’ also noted that the total number of trips abroad decreased by 1% year on year from 2010. Over the last year the total number of holidays abroad went down by 2% whilst business trips abroad went down by 1%. Conversely trips to see relatives and friends increased by 2%. Trips to Europe only decreased by 1% whilst holidays to the rest of the world went down by 3% suggesting that British holidaymakers are cutting back on longer and more expensive trips abroad. Instead they are concentrating on areas closer to home, which can be reached by discount airlines such as Easyjet or Ryanair or using jet2 or other budget holiday airlines.
The figures represent an overall drop in spending in travel-related industries in the UK. Normally British travellers are leaders in holiday spending but that pattern has changed. This year the money earned from trips to the UK increased by 3% and the figures indicate that more British travellers are spending their money at home and are cutting back on the money they spend whilst travelling as a result of the current economic crisis.
Russ Beech, managing director at discount travel site mega.co.uk said – our UK based holiday searches have shot up in recent months, more so following the collapse of Goldtrail and XL last year which indicates people are still wary of major travel firms failing and losing their money if they book abroad.”
This decline in foreign bookings is reflected in a number of related industries as more expensive luggage, clothing and travel goods companies are reporting less business, whilst budget travel clothing stores such as Asos are seeing an increase in sales. Similarly people are becoming cannier in the way that they book their holidays, using price comparison and discount voucher websites, and also in the way that they spend their money abroad, with the increase of prepaid travel money cards being one obvious example.
Mega.co.uk was formed in 2008 and quickly established itself as a top online marketing firm generating sales for some of the UK’s most well known brands in the travel and tech arenas.
