The study of more than 20,000 responses from consumers found 79% were planning to book with a specialist operator or agent over the next 12 months, as they look for “assurances before embarking on overseas holidays”.
Another positive sign for the industry was that more than a quarter of consumers plan on taking more holidays in 2021 than they did before the Covid-19 pandemic, with 23% also expecting to spend more on their main holiday and only 6% saying they would be spending less.
The 50-59 age group was the most keen to resume travelling with 85% saying they were either “among the first to travel” or would travel “once the time is right”. This compares to 80% for those in their 30s, 83% for people in their 40s, 82% of those in their 60s, and 77% for consumers in their 70s.
However, those in their 70s were also the most unsure about ever travelling again with 6.4% of this age group expressing this view, compared with 3.2% of 50-59-year-olds and 5.4% of those in their 30s.
There were also regional differences, with holidaymakers in London the keenest to get travelling again – 85% of Londoners said they would travel once the “time is right”. While those in Scotland were more cautious about resuming travel than other parts of the UK.
Experience Travel Group’s managing director Sam Clark said: “This in-depth survey gives a clear indication that people across the UK are eager to get away and what choices they will make.
“It certainly delivers positive news for the industry after an incredibly difficult 12 months.
“Being aware of travellers want and also their requirements to ensure their holiday is a safe and pleasurable experience is also crucial information for the industry as it recovers.”
Clark said the proportion of the operator’s bookings made through the trade had jumped from 15% in February 2020 to 70% this February.
