Nearly one-fifth of UK holidaymakers are planning to visit the US this year, ranking only behind perennial favourite Spain at 29.3% - illustrating how long-haul holidays are back on the agenda after nearly two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
New York and Florida remain among the most popular destinations in the US for British holidaymakers. The country only reopened to UK visitors in November 2021.
There is also increased interest in other long-haul destinations this year, with both Australia (5.1%) and Canada (4.5%) rising up to eighth and ninth places respectively in Abta’s list of top 10 destinations for 2022.
The key short-haul European destinations of France (17.8%), Italy (16.4%) and Greece (10.1%) also feature in the top five for this year.
One traditional summer hotspot to watch in 2022 is Turkey, which moves up two places to 10th position. The country is set to be even more attractive to UK holidaymakers this year with the Turkish lira slumping in value against the pound recently - making it even better value for Britons.
Other countries to feature in Abta’s top 10 include Portugal (8.7%) and Germany (8.2%), which are ranked in sixth and seventh place respectively for the most popular destinations.
Abta also expects to see more consumers using the services of a travel professional to book their breaks in 2022, with research showing people are 30% more likely to do so than they were before the pandemic struck.
This is primarily for the guidance the trade can offer to consumers, alongside the security of booking a package holiday.
Graeme Buck, Abta’s director of communications, added: “January is typically when people start to plan their holidays for the year ahead, so we’d encourage anyone who is thinking of booking a holiday to speak with an Abta member.
“Whether they’re looking to visit one of these popular destinations or somewhere else entirely, our members are experts at finding the best holiday for their customers – and at a competitive price.
“They’ll also be there to look after their customers every step of the way, from doing all the research to keeping them up-to-date with any restrictions or changes they need to be aware of, so they can book and travel with confidence.”
The full top 10 destinations (and change in position on 2021):
Spain (29.3%) =
US (18.1%) +1
France (17.8%) -1
Italy (16.4%) =
Greece (10.1%) =
Portugal (8.7%) =
Germany (8.2%) =
Australia (5.1%) +2
Canada (4.5%) +2
Turkey (4.0%) +2
