Majority plan to travel this summer despite cost worries, poll finds

The poll, conducted in early May, before the aviation staffing crisis but after the rise in energy bills, found 84% “confident” they would take a holiday this summer. However, while 58% said they would take a domestic break, only 42% planned on going abroad, with the majority of these staying in Europe.

The survey found cost of travel (51%), personal financial circumstances (48%) and uncertainty over the Covid crisis (47%) were key obstacles deterring UK respondents to make travel plans.

The survey was taken by 1,012 people in the UK, with 8,000 others in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland and the US also participating.

Joe Mason, Allianz Partners’ chief marketing officer – travel, said: “As we head into the first summer in three years with few travel restrictions due to Covid, it’s particularly interesting to see that the pandemic is no longer the primary concern for summer vacationers.”

However, half of all respondents said the probable increase in travel costs might push them to downscale their summer getaways this year. Similarly, 47% said the state of their personal finances could mean they need to downgrade their ambitions for their summer break.

Other reasons not to travel were cited by respondents from all nations, with Covid named by 45% and the war in Ukraine by 42%.