Long haul holidays are on the up with Brits spending more on travel

Almost half of Brits will be flying to long haul destinations this year, new research has shown.

The study, conducted by WEX, surveyed 1,000 people, and found that 46% would be holidaying in a far flung destination this year. The US came out as the most popular long-haul destination (20%), closely followed by Australia (11%.)

The Caribbean came in at third, with one in 10 saying they would be travelling to the tropical islands this year. India and Thailand followed up to complete the 2016 top 5 long haul locations.

Although long haul holidays are on the up, short haul travel is still the favourite amongst Brits. 71% of those surveyed confessed to planning a short-haul trip away this year, with Spain being the solid number one choice. 44% will be heading to Spain this year, followed by France (18%), Greece (17%), Italy (15%), and Portugal (8%).

Although long-haul travel is usually connected to young backpackers, the results of the study show that there is a firm audience of older travellers looking to see more of the world. 41% of over 55’s said that they would be traveling beyond Europe this year. Travellers between the ages of 35 and 44 were the most likely to holiday long-haul this year (54%).

The amount Brits spend on a holiday has also increased, with the average holidaymaker set to spend around £2,924 on trips abroad over the next year.

The Commercial Director Europe, Virtual Payments at WEX, Ian Johnson, said: “British holidaymakers are becoming more and more adventurous with their travels and are looking to experience new destinations outside of Europe. However, our research shows that whilst many people will be jetting off to long-haul destinations this year, Spain remains the most popular hotspot for British travellers.

“Our research also shows that British consumers continue their love affair with travelling and with an average UK salary currently at £26,700*, they are set to spend just over 10% on holidays.”

More information and the study conducted by WEX can be found here http://www.wexeurope.com/news/wex-survey-reveals-long-haul-holidays-take-off-in-2016/