New research by ATOL, the holiday protection scheme, has found that over 247,000 people in Manchester are set to book their holiday this week, as December’s snowy weather accelerates the holiday booking period.
Other Key drivers for consumers booking a holiday before December include ‘wanting something to look forward to in the New Year’ (28 per cent) and ‘needing to stay organised’ (16 per cent).
Spain tops the list for holiday makers in Manchester in 2018, but Greece is a close second with one in ten looking to go there for their 2018 ‘vacay’
The younger generation are set to enjoy trips around Europe next year with Spain and Italy top of the holiday wish list
Other countries in the top ten include the USA,Portugal,Thailand, Australia and New Zealand
While the research also revealed the destinations at the bottom of tourist’s wish lists, with Azerbaijan and Colombia proving the least popular.
Despite the weakness of the pound driving up costs, the latest data, that surveyed more than 4,000 people across the UK, has found that the popularity of the USA is stronger than ever with over a million more people looking to travel across the pond in 2018 than 2017.
After enjoying adventurous gap years, the study shows millennials are now keen to holiday a little closer to home with European destinations very much in vogue for the younger generation. Spain, Italy and Greece are all top destinations of choice and Portugal is rapidly closing the gap thanks to its buzzing food scene, photogenic cityscapes and Port making a comeback. This is in contrast to the older generation who are increasingly using retirement to travel to far flung destinations such as New Zealand and Australia.
The research found that when it comes to booking holidays, top priorities for consumers include guaranteed sunshine, a nearby beach and even access to British TV channels.
For the younger generation, the top three priorities for a holiday include ‘good wi-fi’ (35 per cent), ‘free data roaming’ (15 per cent) and ‘instagrammable locations’ (10 per cent). This is in stark contrast to those who are over 55—these sensible spenders are three times more concerned about having ATOL protection when booking a break (60 per cent).
