Just over a third (34%) of travellers used a travel professional (agent or operator) to book their holidays in the past 12 months, down from 38% a year earlier.
The figures were revealed in Abta's latest Holiday Habits report, which was issued on Tuesday (7 October). Abta said the figures for booking with a travel professional had been "fairly consistent" over a five-year period. Chief executive Mark Tanzer said agents "continue to be seen as trusted advisors".
Of those who did use a travel professional over the past year, 41% said they felt more confident booking through them, up from 36% in 2024.
More than a fifth (22%) said they have had a better holiday when using a travel professional, up five percentage points year-on-year. And among 18 to 24-year-olds, this increased to 30%.
Besides the confidence boost, key reasons for using a travel professional to book their holidays including ease of booking (57%, +3% year-on-year), time saving (42%, -1% YoY), value (39%, level YoY) and to have help and support while travelling (38%, -5% YoY).
Separately, Abta's third travel confidence index increased to +53% this year, up by six percentage points year-on-year and up by 12 percentage points compared with when it was introduced in 2023.
It is calculated by subtracting those who rate their travel confidence (one to four) as low from those who rate it as high (seven to 10).
Among those who booked with a travel professional, their confidence index score increased from +72% last year to +78% this year, while those who booked a package also saw a confidence boost, going up from +74% to +80%.
"Confidence to travel is high," said Tanzer. "More people went on holiday over the last 12 months.
"Despite financial pressure on households continuing, travel maintained its position as the engine of the ‘experience economy’, typically prioritised as a purchase over consumer goods, such as new technology and eating out.
"That confidence and keenness to travel is down to the work of the travel industry, and Abta members in particular. Travel agents continue to be seen as trusted advisers – with more people than ever saying they have a better holiday when they book with one.
"Value for money remains at the forefront of people’s minds – and decision making – and is among the top reasons people book with a travel professional and choose to travel on a package holiday."
Packages remain the most popular type of holiday, with 54% of respondents saying they booked one over the past 12 months, up two percentage points on last year.
More than three quarters of families with children aged under five (78%) are opting for packages and seven in 10 families with children over the age of five (70%).
The main reason for booking packages remained value (43%), down from 44% last year, while others including convenience (36%, down from 38%) and having everything taken care of (35%, down from 37%).
Abta said the latest research is based on a representative survey of 2,001 UK adults by an independent market research firm, taking age, location and other demographics into account.
