Travel & Tourism: Holidays Abroad

Our love affair with international travel isn’t something that’s developed overnight. In fact, we’ve been swapping our drizzly British beaches for sunnier and more exotic locations since the 1600s! The ‘Grand Tour’, as it was known, has often been referred to as the 17th century equivalent of today’s gap year, and we’ve been jet-setting ever since Queen Elizabeth became the first monarch to fly, way back in 1953. Our tastes, however, are continuously changing. So what’s hot in travel right now?

Travel Trends

The UK tends to see ebbs and flows in terms of travel. Back in the 1700s when the benefits of spas first became common knowledge, spa towns like Bath were overrun with holidaymakers. Later, when Royal Mail ships began transporting passengers to the Iberian coast and P&O began routes to Portugal, more and more Brits started heading abroad for their annual getaways. The same thing happens today. Although holidays abroad dropped by 15 percent in 2009, international travel is now once again on the rise, with more than half of Brits heading to sunnier shores last year, compared to just one quarter who chose to holiday a little closer to home. ‘Staycations’ are out, it seems.

Old Favourites & Newcomers

Reports suggest that a whopping 25 percent of us are heading to Spain for the great weather, even better food, and, of course, short flights from London and regional airports. France and the United States are also firm favourites, but are they about to be overtaken by some dark horses? Eastern Europe, Africa, and China are being cited as the ‘ones to watch’, with destinations such as Namibia, Zambia, Montenegro, and Beijing popular among those looking to experience a truly different culture. So where will your holiday take you? Why not consider some new and exciting destinations?