Almost half of UK travellers are planning to splash even more cash on holiday this year, as their confidence in Britain’s economy takes an upward turn. (Featured image by owlpacino)
The latest TripBarometer by TripAdvisor has revealed that 41 per cent of Brits are planning to increase their travel budgets in 2013, with just 23 per cent of those surveyed letting the threat of a triple-dip recession affect their travel plans.
The findings reflect recent research by Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance which showed that the amount Brits are planning to spend on the cost of their overseas holiday is set to rise by a figure of 8 per cent this year (up by £65.14) to £830.61.
But while UK holidaymakers are increasing their overall travel spend, they could face a potential hit to their newly boosted wallets if they opt for a staycation, with 40 per cent of UK accommodation providers planning to increase rates within the next six months.
However, a higher 55 per cent are planning to keep room rates the same, meaning there are still opportunities for Brits to avoid accommodation hikes.
Further trends identified by the survey include the fact that travellers are increasingly going online to carry out research and planning for their annual getaways, with 93 per cent of worldwide travellers arguing that their booking decisions were influenced by online reviews.
In addition, while just 7 per cent of Brits used a high street travel agent to book their last trip, a higher 23 per cent booked accommodation online.
“With travellers choosing digital channels for their travel planning and research, traditional word of mouth has been amplified and online booking has become the norm across the globe,” said Christine Petersen, President of TripAdvisor for Business.
“Furthermore, as travel budgets increase and European accommodations plan to keep room rates steady, it seems likely that Europe will prove to be great value for money for international travellers this year.”
