Flight bookings to Turkey and Greece up by more than 50%
Former MemberFlight bookings from the UK to summer favourites such as Turkey and Greece are up more than 50%, new research has shown.
Data collated by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and ForwardKeys showed a 53% rise in flight bookings to Turkey and a 51% rise in flight bookings to Greece compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Spain, which remains the most popular destination for British travellers, is also performing well and ahead of pre-pandemic levels at 1%, the research said.
Meanwhile flight bookings to countries such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have also soared by 36%, 28% and 26% respectively compared to 2019 levels, as families seek to reconnect with loved ones.
However the research suggested bookings during the same period to the US, which in 2019 was the fifth most popular destination for Brits, remains 10% lower than before the pandemic.
The WTTC noted the data also highlighted a more negative outlook for inbound travel. While inbound bookings for international arrivals are up by 1,453% compared to 2021 (when severe restrictions to travel were in place), bookings to date are still well below pre-pandemic levels - down 45% versus 2019.
“The massive imbalance between outbound and inbound UK international flight bookings is a worrying sign for the recovering travel and tourism sector and the UK economy,” said Julia Simpson, WTTC president and chief executive.
destinations.”
The WTTC’s 2021 Economic Import Report showed the US was the number one source market for UK inbound international travellers, however the latest data revealed flight bookings this year are still nearly
a quarter (24%) below 2019 levels.
(up 15%).
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