How risk factors into holiday and travel planning in 2024
From safety and security to climate concerns and lesser-known destinations, here are 6 trends to consider for your holidays in 2024
Want to know what's going on in travel this year but feeling overwhelmed by all the destination trends and predictions? When it comes to researching and booking holidays, it's useful to know what factors or risks might impact our travel plans, but it can be hard to cut through all the noise.
We’ve waded through the research and reports about UK travel published over the last few months to identify risks and highlight trends that will give you the big picture when it comes to holidays.
Here’s what’s happening in travel in 2024:
Three in four of us are planning to holiday this year – and most of us are heading abroad
Data from All Clear Insurance shows that three quarters of Brits (77%) expect to travel abroad this year, up from 64% in 2023. This is confirmed in Barclay’s latest Consumer Spending report, which shows that three in four of us (73%) will be going on holiday in 2024, as well as Travel Weekly’s Insight report, revealing that 70% of parents with children are planning a foreign holiday this year.
In fact, the Travel Weekly report predicts that 27.3 million UK travellers intend to take an overseas holiday. And according to research published by American Express, 13 million have already booked elements of our 2024 travel, with most of us planning an average of two trips this year.
Safer Travel tip: For Brits heading to Europe, it’s important to remember that post-Brexit, you must have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for you and every member of your family to give you healthcare access in the EU. If you’re heading further afield, you’ll need to make sure your travel insurance policy covers any health and safety issues you might run into in the country you’re visiting. Do your research before you go so you understand what’s covered.
People are spending big when it comes to travel!
According to Barclay’s February Consumer Spending Report, foreign travel is high on people’s lists when it comes to discretionary spending. Travel agents recorded 10% higher growth in February, compared to the previous month, with a 15% rise in transactions.
Skyscanner’s 2024 Travel Trends report shows that 27% of UK travellers are planning bigger travel budgets compared to last year, while 41% will spend around the same. Travel Weekly’s Insights Report paints an even more optimistic picture, with their research showing 54% of UK travellers expecting to spend more this year.
Safer Travel Tip: When people think about spending big on travel, they may forget to think about some of the smaller, extra costs that can make the biggest difference. While it’s not as exciting as booking your flight, hotel or sightseeing tour, remembering to buy proper travel insurance, or purchase a portable carbon monoxide alarm for your self-catering accommodation could be what determines if you have a dream or nightmare holiday. Think about the risks before you set off, and make sure your trip is unforgettable for all the RIGHT reasons.
Safety and security top list of priorities, but value and vibe influence destination choices
A poll commissioned by tour operator Experience Travel Group (ETG) and The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) revealed that FCDO travel warnings are a hugely important decision-making factor for UK holidaymakers. Nearly four in five (78%) of those surveyed ranked safety and security as their top priority when booking a holiday. In fact, according to the findings, three in four of us (74%) would go so far as to turn down a free holiday if FCDO advice deemed the destination was unsafe.
And yet, many in the travel industry argue that FCDO travel warnings are applied with too broad a brushstroke. For example, the Foreign Office’s current safety and security advice for Sri Lanka states that there is a high risk of terrorist attacks. However, travel groups like AITO and many others believe this advice is highly misleading and that it does not accurately reflect the current tourism experience in Sri Lanka.
Given that many travel insurance companies link their travel refund and coverage policies to FCDO travel advice, it could be a major deterrent for travellers that prioritise safety and want to make sure they get the right insurance for their trip.
The European Travel Commission recently published research which confirmed the importance of safety when it comes to destination selection. When asked about the most important criteria when choosing where to travel, respondents selected ‘The destination is safe to visit (no civil unrest, low crime rates)’ as their top concern, followed by the quality of the tourism infrastructure.
While it’s clear that safety is key for most travellers, not all the surveys and reports show it as topping the list of priorities. Cost, and value for money, as well as a destination’s vibe are all listed as key decision-making factors for UK holidaymakers. Skyscanner’s Travel Trends report shows cost of hotels (25%) and flights (22%) as important factors influencing where people want to go, with factors such as weather, food, culture and vibe also impacting destination choices. Expedia’s Travel Trends Unpack report also focused on vibe as a key influence on travel plans, especially when it comes to choosing which neighbourhood to stay in or picking the right hotel.
Safer Travel Tip: Whether you choose your destination for its safety credentials or its food offering, you should always research and weigh up the risks before you go.
We’re exploring lesser-known destinations
Many UK travellers are still planning to holiday within Europe, but a growing number of us are opting for smaller cities or destinations that aren’t traditionally on the UK tourist map. According to data from Skyscanner, cities like Vigo, on the Northwest coast of Spain, Rimini in Southern Italy and Poland’s Bydgoszcz are seeing the biggest increase in traveller interest compared to previous years.
Expedia’s Travel Trends report reveals two trends affecting destination choices – set-jetting and travel dupes.
Set-jetting is the practice of visiting places you’ve seen in film, with Expedia data predicting increased travel to places like Thailand, Romania, Malta and South Korea, following the countries’ feature roles in White Lotus, Wednesday, Gladiator 2 and Squid Game, respectively.
Popularised via TikTok, the travel dupes trend sees travellers opting for alternative destinations that are more affordable than the place they originally wanted to visit. Expedia’s report predicts travellers will swap traditionally popular tourist cities, swapping Bangkok for Pattaya, or London for Liverpool.
Safer Travel Tip: If you’ve got a new or off-the-beaten path destination on your list for 2024, consider the tourism infrastructure and whether it’s suitable for any medical or health needs you might have. Check local customs before you go to make sure you’re not inadvertently putting yourself in any danger when it comes to how you dress, what you drink or how you behave.
Climate concerns are affecting holiday decisions
While holiday deals seen across many popular travel sites may seem to indicate otherwise, our concern for the climate is impacting where and how we travel. Research from Travel Weekly shows that nearly half of us (43%) are changing our travel behaviour due to climate change – that's an 8-point increase from last year’s report. And one in 10 of us will avoid travel to any hot destinations.
Safer Travel Tip: Whether the climate is influencing your travel decisions or not, it will growingly impact travel insurance policies. Extreme weather or natural catastrophes brought on by climate change are unlikely to be covered by most travel insurance companies. So make sure you take this into consideration. Even if it’s just to make sure you’re packing the right clothes and protection to stay safe in the sun!
Recent changes and new regulations are impacting travel
For most of us planning foreign travel this year, it won’t be our first time abroad. In fact, with trip numbers approaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels, it won’t even be our first overseas trip since Covid-19. But a few recent changes might catch even the most frequent travellers amongst us unawares.
Did you know that recent changes to US travel laws mean that anyone who visits Cuba will no longer be eligible for the US's ESTA visa waiver programme? So, if you’re keen on visiting Cuba, but are also thinking about taking the kids to Disney World or exploring the music scene in Nashville, or even taking a quick business trip to New York in the next few years, you’ll want to thoroughly examine the rules before making that decision.
Passport validity is your responsibility! According to EU rules, passports are valid for a maximum of 10 years, and should also be valid for three months after your scheduled return date. Some airlines and travel agents will remind you of this, but at the end of the day, the responsibility for ensuring your passport is valid for the correct amount of time lies with you. Don’t let an out-of-date passport ruin your travel plans.
If you’re one of those people who like to be prepared with your liquids in appropriately sized containers, organised and at the ready in the plastic bag before going through security, you’ll probably be pretty jazzed to find out that laws are changing when it comes to liquids and portable devices. As of summer 2024, airports throughout the UK will be required to install new technology to scan liquids and electronics, meaning that the 100ml limit rule and dragging your laptop out of your case will become things of the past. But make sure to check before you travel! The technology required to make this possible takes a while to install – Heathrow and Luton are set to have it up and running before this summer, but other airports throughout the UK may not get this installed until 2025.
Safer Travel Tip: Add these items to your ‘Holiday planning to-do list’ so you don’t get caught out:
- Check entry laws for country you’re visiting, and any other countries you plan to visit in next five years.
- Check your passport validity!
- Check airport restrictions – for your departure and return – and pack liquids accordingly.