Approximately five million Brits are expected to flock abroad this Christmas period largely to escape the cost-of-living gloom at home, experts say.
Travel agencies across the UK anticipated a bumper weekend as consumer confidence following coronavirus has shot up again, and Brits are said to be fearful of the cost of a domestic Christmas.
Spain, Greece and the Caribbean are the most requested destinations for winter sun. Some European holidays during the festive period can be snapped up for as little as £265 per person, the industry says. Other last-minute deals include one week at all-inclusive resorts in either Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt for less than £550 per person.
It is estimated five million Brits will spend Christmas abroad this year (Getty Images)With temperatures in the UK still expected to struggle to exceed average for the time of year for the rest of December, Brits are said to have desire for warmer climes. Some 640,000 festive fliers are set to leave from Stansted Airport, and another 470,000 will jet out of Luton Airport, the travel agents association Abta told Daily Express.
"Buying experiences as gifts is becoming ever more popular. We can see a last-minute rush of bookings for families and couples who are opting to book a getaway over Christmas," David Child, head of communications for Thomas Cook, told the publication.
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"No doubt, people are keen to avoid the effort of all the gift-buying and fridge-stocking that’s needed for a Christmas at home." He added annual leave typically runs from the start of the calendar year to the end of it, which means many workers are looking to use their remaining chunks before it expires.
Chris Webber, head of holidays and deals at TravelSupermarket, said: "December is cold...with the shortest day guaranteeing more darkness For many of us, leave allowances will be renewed in January, so for some, there will be days to use up and together with two bank holidays around Christmas and New Year, this is a great time to max out that allowance.
"With office shutdowns and school holidays, following a long busy autumn, many are looking forward to a well-deserved restful break with or without families."
Staff at Heathrow Airport are making plans to help more than three million departing and arriving passengers in the last fortnight of this month, while a significant number of holly-holidaymakers will cross the Channel to Europe by ferry or via the Channel Tunnel.
The travel industry says December 23 and 27 are proving to be the top departure days so far, as tourists look to arrive in the sun for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself or for New Year's Eve celebrations. Both affairs had to be rather muted occasions in 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, high energy costs, followed by mortgage and rent rises, plus dearer food bills and transport charges have all put the squeeze on household budgets. The travel industry has faced the dire consequences of these challenges.
But now, it's understood the travel bug has returned and consumers are keeping an eye out for last-minute bargains. Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “Despite cost-of-living pressures, people’s appetite for travel has remained strong this year and looks set to continue into 2024.
"We expect this month will be a busy time for overseas breaks, with many holidaymakers taking to the slopes or looking for some winter sunshine. All are looking for good value and our research has shown many are choosing to take package holidays to have both value and security.”
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