The great summer getaway as Britons fork out on lavish trips
BRITISH holidaymakers are racing to book longer and more lavish holidays after restrictions for vaccinated travellers were lifted.
Travel bosses said demand for foreign trips had soared ‘beyond expectations’ in the past two weeks, as Covid-weary Britons splash out on trips to far-flung spots.
The Government stated on January 24 that restrictions for vaccinated travellers will soon end. But bookings jumped over the past week as many were paid for the first time since the changes – which apply to arrivals into the UK from this Friday – were announced.
Hays Travel said bookings in the last week of January hit pre-pandemic levels. ‘We knew there would be a bounce but we just didn’t know how big,’ said Dame Irene Hays, the company’s chairman.
There had been a ‘phenomenal increase’ in demand, she said, particularly for long-haul holidays to destinations such as Mexico, Dubai, America and the Maldives.
‘People are now ready for a holiday – and many are taking the opportunity to spend more on a holiday that’s been worth waiting for,’ said Dame Irene. Meanwhile, Steve Byrne, chief executive at Travel Counsellors, which sells more than £700million worth of trips a year, said bookings to the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean were more than 50 per cent higher than they were before the pandemic. His company recently carried out a survey that found 75 per cent of customers were planning to at least match or go beyond their last holiday spend.
Most bookings are still for everpopular destinations including Spain, Turkey, Cyprus and Greece.
EasyJet said last weekend was its busiest so far this year, and that bookings for beach destinations have already eclipsed summer 2019 levels. It has increased its capacity for beach breaks by 14 per cent, compared with 2019.
Two-thirds of people told the airline a trip abroad was their priority, and more than half said they would go on two or more holidays.
EasyJet chief commercial officer Sophie Dekkers told The Mail on Sunday that booking volumes ‘jumped’ after travel restrictions were dropped.
Holiday firm TUI added: ‘Many of our customers are choosing to go away for longer than seven nights to make up for lost time.’