ABTA – the Travel Association has released new insights following feedback from over 2,000 consumers¹ which suggest that the USA is the most sought-after destination for holidaymakers looking to create unique memories from their travels in the year ahead.
 
Further research from ABTA shows that 63%² of people are hoping to book a holiday abroad and ABTA has issued new advice to help people plan and book their trips with confidence (see end for 10 top tips).
 
Those making plans to visit the USA  cited the awe-inspiring cityscapes of New York, the bright lights of Las Vegas and the beaches and theme parks of Florida as just some of the memorable experiences they were hoping to share with their travel companions.
 
The classic European hotspots of Spain, Italy, Greece and France were also high on people’s wish lists, with travellers keen to experience the cultural, architectural and gastronomical delights of a city break to Barcelona, Paris or Rome as much as the chance to relax and unwind with a sunshine getaway in the Canaries, the Balearics, Santorini or Crete. Popular spots for those looking to head further afield were the palm-fringed, white-sand beaches of the Caribbean as well as an unforgettable luxury break to a private island in The Maldives.

Current booking trends from ABTA Members also point to holidaymakers either choosing to return to familiar destinations in Europe that they know and love or opting for a more adventurous, bucket list trip – particularly for departures in 2022.
 
ABTA says that not only are holidays a chance to relax, spend quality time with loved ones and are important for our wellbeing, they are also very intertwined with making memories of a lifetime - that can be anything from seeing spectacular sights or doing activities you’ve always dreamed of. Holidays can also be a time for a number of ‘firsts’ – whether the first time you take your child to the beach, the first time you try a particular dish or cuisine, or the first time you meet a friend or partner.

Graeme Buck, Director of Communications at ABTA – The Travel Association said:

“Holidays allow us to create special memories with our loved ones that will last a lifetime. As we’ve been unable to travel for so long, many people will be excited about the possibility of heading off on a long-awaited holiday this year and being able to make those treasured memories once again.

“To offer support and guidance for those who are eager to get away, ABTA has put together ten top tips covering everything holidaymakers need to know to book with confidence this year – and have something to look forward to for when travel reopens.

“We’d encourage anyone who is thinking of booking a holiday to speak to an ABTA Member. As well as helping their customers to understand what the latest advice means for their travel plans, our Members are experts at finding the best holiday to suit their customers’ preferences – and at a competitive price.”

ABTA’s ten top tips to take holidaymakers through everything they need to know to book with confidence this year are:

1. Use the expertise of an ABTA Member to help plan your trip and navigate any restrictions.
2. Book a package holiday for the greatest level of protection.
3. Check the Foreign Office advice for your destination and sign up to email alerts.
4. Book early for the best prices and to secure the accommodation and resort of your choice.
5. Note that many companies offer flexible cancellation and booking policies.
6. Take out travel insurance as soon as you book and check its cover for coronavirus.
7. Make sure your passport is valid for your travel dates, apply for any visas you need and check the travel health advice for your destination at TravelHealthPro.org.uk.
8. If you’re travelling to Europe, there may be extra steps you need to take ahead of your trip. Visit abta.com/Brexit
9. As your departure date nears, check the latest travel advice Foreign Office advice pages and speak to your ABTA Member travel provider.
10. With your holiday booked, you can sit back and look forward to heading off on your well-deserved break!

You can read the tips in full by visiting www.abta.com/bookwithconfidencetips.
 

Notes to editors
ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for 70 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers travel with confidence.

The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members.

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA has more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, providing a wide range of leisure and business travel services, with a combined annual UK turnover of £39 billion. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we help the British public travel with confidence visit www.abta.com.
  
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¹These latest insights into people’s holiday plans are based on analysis of over 2,000 submissions to ABTA on social media from people who shared where they were looking to go on holiday in 2021.
² ABTA consumer sentiment research conducted by The Nursery Research and Planning (www.the-nursery.net/) in February 2021, with a nationally representative sample of 500 consumers.