Holiday bookings soar in Wales as 1.7m Brits jet off for Oct half term
With one in six (17%) Welsh people still planning to get away abroad during 2021, a new report today reveals how foreign travel is set to take off as holiday-hungry Brits show renewed signs of booking confidence.
Of those holidaymakers, one in ten (10%) will be making the most of late summer sun and jetting off for October half term, just in time for new rules taking effect making return to UK testing cheaper.
In its annual ‘Taking the Temperature’ report out today, easyJet holidays reveals that just over one in six (18%) Welsh people currently have a holiday abroad booked, with 20% of those bookings being made in September alone.
The latest figures follow the removal of amber lists and pre-departure tests for international travel, with easyJet holidays finding that one in four (25%) Welsh people now feel more confident about travelling abroad because of the announcement. 18% say that it has enabled them to book a holiday, while almost one in four (24%) say that the cost of a holiday abroad has now become a lot more affordable due to the removal of pre-departure tests, which is set to improve further following the replacement of PCRs with lateral flow tests for holidaymakers returning to the UK.
Amongst those that have booked a holiday, the top three reasons for doing so are a return to more normal foreign travel conditions (55%), being happier to travel because they are vaccinated (50%) and a wider range of safe holiday destinations (30%).
Matt Callaghan, Customer Director at easyJet holidays, comments: “With foreign travel becoming a lot easier and simpler for families, friends and solo travellers, we’re seeing even higher levels of consumer confidence in bookings for holidays abroad for the rest of this year. Yet as holidays abroad return for the many, our research has shown that, following the pandemic, the way we holiday will never be the same again. That’s why at easyJet holidays we’re continuing our commitment to providing the ultimate flexibility, whatever type of holiday you’re looking for.”
THE GREAT LATE ESCAPE
Beach holidays in the sun remain the most popular type of holiday Brits want to go on again this year, even for those going on holiday this winter, with all-inclusive holidays being Brits’ most popular holiday option according to easyJet holidays booking data. Yet, its report has found that the average number of days of Welsh people prefer to spend on holiday has fallen to 9.95 days, with 50% holiday-goers saying that they’ll be visiting more than one destination in the same trip.
Coined ‘The Great Late Escape’, this trend, which combines ‘spur of the moment’ booking behaviour with the desire for packing the most into a holiday to ensure maximum value, has been growing in recent months. This is perhaps explained by the fact that six in ten (59%) Welsh people feel like they’ve missed out on holidaymaking memories due to COVID-19, while demand for great value holidays is on the rise with a third (33%) having less disposable income to spend on foreign trips due to the pandemic.
With almost three in 10 (28%) of Welsh people saying that a holiday abroad is currently too expensive for them to book, easyJet holidays is doubling down on its ‘Best Price Guarantee’ and commitment to making holidays abroad accessible to all, meaning that discounts will be applied if customers find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere.
The new research also uncovers Brits’ holidaymaking habits of the future. Three in eight (36%) Welsh people will be visiting less crowded places when travelling abroad compared to before the pandemic, while 26% will be looking to cut their impact on the environment. Pioneering the industry’s approach to reducing tourism’s environmental impact, easyJet holidays recently launched its sustainability strategy focused on supporting tourism destinations and having a positive impact on local communities and environments.
Demands for increased flexibility are also set to stay with just over four in ten (44%) saying that they will be paying more attention to the terms and conditions of holiday bookings, compared to before the pandemic.
A TESTING TIME THE INDUSTRY
Despite the uplift in bookings, the annual report shows that consumers are still apprehensive about the protections in place if things do go wrong. More than six in ten (61%) Welsh people are only willing to book a holiday abroad if they feel confident their money is protected.
Financial worries top the list of concerns amongst holidaymaking Welsh people, with almost half (45%) worried about losing money if they need to change their travel plans and 37% concerned about not being able to get a refund if their holiday cannot go ahead.
Matt Callaghan continues: “Last year, as easyJet holidays we led the holidays sector in setting a benchmark for safeguarding customers’ money with our Protection Promise, while making holidays accessible for all. Today, as demand for greater protection grows year-on-year, and consumers seek greater value holidays, we’re renewing our commitment to providing our customers with the ultimate holiday booking flexibility, giving them the reassurance that they can book with confidence.”
With a commitment to providing the most flexible holidays for consumers, easyJet holidays’ Protection Promise is the only long-term permanent policy of its kind in the UK travel industry and has been designed to provide customers with the freedom and confidence to book. It includes:
- Refund Guarantee: If our customers change their mind, we will give them a full refund, including their deposit in credit, up to 28 days before departure and free of fees
- Take Your Time: Our customers can pay for their holiday in instalments with no fees and only pay in full 28 days before they travel, giving them flexibility if plans change
- Best Price Guarantee: We’re so confident in our great value holidays that if our customers find the same holiday cheaper elsewhere, we’ll beat the price
- Freedom to Change: Our customers have the flexibility to change their holiday if things change and there are no fees for changes made online until 28 days before departure
- Keep Your Deposit: Our customers can plan ahead with confidence, knowing that if plans change, up to 28 days from departure they won’t lose their deposit
For more information on the easyJet holidays Protection Promise visit https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/info/protection-promise
TOP 10 DEALS FOR THE GREAT LATE ESCAPE
- 4* Coral Beach Hughada Hotel, Egypt, on an all-inclusive basis for £455 per person, including flights from Bristol airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 3 November 2021
- 3* Aguamar Hotel, Tenerife, on a self-catering basis for £386 per person, including flights from Luton airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 13 November 2021
- 4* Quinta Pedra dos Bicos, Portugal on a self-catering basis for £199 per person, including flights from Glasgow airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 2 November 2021
- 4* Atlantis Las Lomas Hotel, Spain, on a self-catering basis for £281 per person, including flights from London Gatwick airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 2 November 2021
- 4* Hilton Sharks Bay, Egypt, on an all-inclusive basis for £406 per person, including flights from London Gatwick airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 8 December 2021
- 4* Holiday World Polynesia, Spain, on an all-inclusive basis for £349 per person, including flights from London Gatwick airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 30 November 2021
- 3* Hotel Eftalia Aytur, Turkey, a bed and breakfast for £260 per person, including flights from Luton airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 12 November 2021
- 3* Hotel Laxnes, Iceland, a room for £195 per person, including flights from Manchester airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 2 November 2021
- 4* Ozo Hotel, France, a room for £158 per person, including flights from Liverpool airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 2 November 2021
- 3* Campanile Marne la Valee-Torcy, France, a room for £178 per person, including flights from Manchester airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 4 December 2021