With 3.8 million Brits 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, 1.7 million 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 one in five (21%) Brits currently have a holiday abroad booked, with almost a quarter (24%) of those bookings being made in September alone.

In a much-needed boost for the holiday industry, more than a quarter (28%) of those who have a holiday abroad booked will be going on their city or beach getaway before the New Year. Spain tops the list of destinations, followed by France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus respectively.

The latest figures follow the removal of amber lists and pre-departure tests for international travel, with easyJet holidays finding that almost three in ten (28%) Brits now feel more confident about travelling abroad because of the announcement. One in six (17%) say that it has enabled them to book a holiday, while a third (32%) 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 being happier to travel because they are vaccinated (39%), a return to more normal foreign travel conditions (34%) and a wider range of safe holiday destinations (28%).

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 Brits prefer to spend on holiday has fallen to 10.6 days, a 12% decrease on last year, while almost a third (32%) 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 two thirds (67%) of Brits feel like they’ve missed out on holidaymaking memories due to COVID-19, while demand for great value holidays is on the rise with more than a third (37%) having less disposable income to spend on foreign trips due to the pandemic.

With almost three in 10 (29%) 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. Two in five (42%) Brits will be visiting less crowded places when travelling abroad compared to before the pandemic, while three in 10 (31%) 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 more than half (56%) saying that they will be paying more attention to the terms and conditions of holiday bookings, compared to before the pandemic.

A TESTING TIME FOR 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 three in five (62%) Brits are only willing to book a holiday abroad if they feel confident their money is protected, up from 53% last year.

Financial worries top the list of concerns amongst holidaymaking Brits, with 43% worried about losing money if they need to change their travel plans, up from 38% last year. Almost half (48%) are concerned about not being able to get a refund if their holiday cannot go ahead, a 37% increase year on year.

Continued uncertainty about COVID-19 restrictions tops the list of reasons why some Brits aren’t booking a holiday (25%). Followed by abiding by the differing COVID-19 rules in-destination (17%) and the affordability of holidays (16%).

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

1. Seven nights at the 3* Aguamar Hotel, Tenerife, on a self-catering basis for £386 per person, based on two adults, including flights from Luton airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 13 November 2021
2. Seven nights at the 4* Quinta Pedra dos Bicos, Portugal on a self-catering basis for £199 per person, based on two adults,  including flights from Glasgow airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 2 November 2021
3. Seven nights at the 4* Coral Beach Hughada Hotel, Egypt, on an all-inclusive basis for £455 per person, based on two adults, including flights from Bristol airport,  23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 3 November 2021
4. Seven nights at the 4* Atlantis Las Lomas Hotel, Spain, on a self-catering basis for £281 per person, based on two adults, including flights from London Gatwick airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 2 November 2021
5. Seven nights at the 4* Hilton Sharks Bay, Egypt, on an all-inclusive basis for £406 per person, based on two adults, including flights from London Gatwick airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 8 December 2021
6. Seven nights at the 4* Holiday World Polynesia, Spain, on an all-inclusive basis for £349 per person, based on two adults,  including flights from London Gatwick airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 30 November 2021
7. Seven nights at the 3* Hotel Eftalia Aytur, Turkey, on a bed and breakfast for £260 per person, based on two adults,  including flights from Luton airport, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on 12 November 2021
8. Three nights at the 3* Hotel Laxnes, Iceland, on a room only basis for £195 per person, based on two adults,  including flights from Manchester airport and 23kg of luggage per person on 2 November 2021
9. Three nights at the 4* Ozo Hotel, France, on a room only basis for £158 per person,based on two adults,  including flights from Liverpool airport and 23kg of luggage per person on 2 November 2021
10. Three nights at the 3* Campanile Marne la Valee-Torcy, France, on a room only basis for £178 per person, based on two adults,  including flights from Manchester airport and 23kg of luggage per person on 4 December 2021

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For more information, interview requests or imagery, please contact the team at easyjetholidays@grayling.com

About the research

2021 research was commissioned by easyJet holidays and conducted by Censuswide from 24th – 27th September 2021 with a nationally representative sample of 2,021 UK adults. 2020 research was also conducted by Censuswide from 9th – 11th September 2020 with a nationally representative sample of 2,028 UK adults.

About easyJet holidays

easyJet holidays offers great-value beach, city and lakes holidays to more than 100 destinations across Europe, directly through its website and through over 3000 travel agent partners. The ATOL-protected holidays company combines easyJet’s flexible flight programme, with handpicked hotels and best-in-class technology to provide hassle-free personalised holiday experiences which can be secured with a deposit of just £60 per person. The holidays operator is an ABTA member too, providing additional reassurance to customers under the UK’s most trusted travel scheme. With a range of holiday types, from adult and family to luxury and undiscovered, transfers included on beach holidays, 23kg hold luggage included on all bookings, and over 5,000 hotels, across over 500 resorts, customers can holiday the way they want.

All easyJet holidays are covered by its Protection Promise, an industry leading policy giving customers ultimate flexibility, protection and reassurance and letting them book with total confidence. The Promise offers a refund guarantee, freedom to change a booking, a reduced balance due date, a Best Price Guarantee, deposit refunds, to ensure flexibility if there are known restrictions at home or in destination.

In 2021 easyJet holidays became the first major UK tour operator to offset the carbon emissions from its package holidays, comprising the fuel used for flights and in-destination transfers, as well as the energy used from hotel stays.