New data collected by Alpha Travel Insurance shows the UK’s favourite holiday destinations. Do holidaymakers opt for short or long haul destinations? How long do they stay for in their destination of choice and how much do they spend on their holiday?
- Spain is the UK’s number one favourite destination, with almost 14 million people holidaying there in 2017.
- France is the second most popular place for people to visit. A little over 6 million people made it their destination of choice.
- The UK’s favourite long haul destination is the US, with 2.1 million people taking a trip across the pond.
- New Zealand is the country where travellers tend to stay for the longest, with an average stay of 37 nights. This is followed by Thailand with an average 22 night stay and India with a 20 night stay.
- Belgium is the UK’s top choice for short breaks, with an average three night stay.
The UK’s Top 10 Holiday Destinations
- Spain – 13,968
- France – 6,064
- Italy – 2,870
- Portugal – 2,324
- USA – 2,186
- Greece – 2,110
- Netherlands – 1,597
- Irish Republic – 1,208
- Germany – 1,185
- Turkey – 895
Spain is by far the UK’s favourite holiday destination, with almost 14 million people holidaying in sunny Spain in 2017. That’s more than double the visits of any other country! So what’s behind its popularity?
The main reason Spain is so much more popular than even France, the second favourite destination, is likely to be value for money. While the amount you’ll spend on flights and accommodation in Spain and France is very similar, the cost of enjoying yourself while you’re there is much lower in Spain.
The cost of living in Spain is 18% lower than in the UK, making food, drink and leisure activities while on holiday great value for Brits. Meanwhile, in France, the cost of living is 30% higher than Spain so it’s likely that Spain tops the charts due to its potential for offering a fantastic holiday on a budget.
Italy came in as the thirds most popular holiday spot for Brits, at 2.8 million visits, despite being the sixth most expensive. In fact, a trip to Italy is more expensive, per night, even than Mexico, Hong Kong, Thailand and New Zealand.
Italy is synonymous with sophistication and culture so it’s perhaps not surprising that it’s one of the UK’S favourite destinations for a luxury holiday. Home to some of the biggest cultural tourist attractions in Europe and one of the top honeymoon destinations of the last five years, Italy has huge wanderlust appeal for UK tourists.
So where will your next trip take you?
