A quick scroll through Abta’s top 23 destinations for 2023, published at the start of the year, revealed one notable absentee – the UK. This omission came despite a surge in UK tourism during the pandemic. Summer 2021 saw chronic overtourism in some areas, with Cornwall even pleading for visitors to go elsewhere.
And despite a post-pandemic resurgence in overseas travel, many Brits remain content rediscovering the joys on their own doorsteps. HF Holidays chief executive David Harrington was particularly peeved about Abta’s ranking. “Domestic travel has been highly popular in the past two years and I’m sure many people booking now are looking at UK destinations.”
