ABTA has identified six key trends that are shaping people’s travel plans for 2021, based on expert insight and research, as well as booking data from their Members.
Embracing Old Favourites
2021 will see people return to old favourites and familiar destinations. Booking trends from ABTA Members such as Barrhead Travel, easyJet holidays, Jet2holidays, TUI and Henbury Travel all point to holidaymakers heading to tried and tested destinations. Turkey, the Balearics, the Canary Islands, Greece and the Algarve are among the most popular spots.
Ticking Off the Bucket List
While many are keen to go to tried and tested destinations next year, others are planning to indulge their pent-up wanderlust with a bucket list trip in 2021. Recent trends certainly point to a rise in popularity for trips that deliver unforgettable experiences and a sense of achievement for the traveller.
An Increasing Desire for Country Escapes
Trips that enable holidaymakers to embrace the great outdoors are expected to prove popular in 2021. This interest in getting back to nature is even more pronounced when it comes to taking a domestic holiday.
Committed Cruisers
Although the Foreign Office has been advising against all sea-going cruise ship travel since March, the ongoing restrictions do not appear to have dented the enthusiasm for cruise amongst those who know and love this style of travel.
The Peace of Mind of a Package and Expertise
The extra protection and expert advice that comes with booking a package holiday is expected to be more important to holidaymakers as travel restarts. People are 20% more likely to use a travel professional to book their holidays now than before the pandemic, with two in five citing the security of a package holiday (41%) and the travel professional’s up-to-date advice (40%) as the main reasons.
Rebuilding with Sustainability at the Heart
As holidaymakers have become increasingly conscious of the impact their holiday has on the places they visit and the people who live there, consumer demand for responsible tourism has been steadily rising over the past decade, and has been consolidated during the pandemic.
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