Report Shows 4% Decline In British Travel Abroad - Mega.co.uk

Online, October 24, 2011 (Newswire.com) - A new report carried out by the ONS (Office of National Statistics) has shown a dip in UK holiday makers taking trips abroad. The figures show a 4% decline in the number of foreign holiday taken by British families in the 3 months leading up to August. This news will not be welcomed by a travel market that has already been hit hard by the economic crisis and will put pressure on the industry as the look to win back customers from a domestic holiday market that is booming.

The main loser in the report appears to be long haul trips as trips to Europe have only seen a 1% drop in numbers which indicates price has become a major factor in peoples holiday spending power. Conversely, the UK has seen holiday numbers soar as people look closer to home for their leisure breaks. Cornwall and Devon have seen visitor numbers climb as holidaymakers look to discover the charms of the rural UK countryside and bustling seaside resorts without spending cash on flights or overseas travel.

A spokesman for Mega the cheap travel website commented: "We have seen more and more of our searchers looking for UK based travel services over the past few months with UK hotel chains like Travelodge showing real progress. We are lucky as we cover UK holidays as part of our discounts service but agents who deal exclusively in foreign travel must be feeling the pinch."

Will foreign travel bounce back in 2012? As a nation of sun lovers it is hard to imagine it wont - but this news will be yet another indicator to the Government that consumer confidence is low and that money saving has been a major focus with the UK public throughout 2011.