Despite the weakness of the pound driving up costs, the popularity of the US is stronger than ever with over a million more people from the UK looking to travel transatlantic in 2018 than 2017.
Figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show Spain remains the UK’s top holiday destination for 2018, while the US is second on the list. Italy, which was the number-two destination in 2017, has dropped one place.
Greece and France remain fourth and fifth. Portugal, the Caribbean, Australia, Canada and Cyprus make up the remainder of the Top Ten.
A worrying fact uncovered by the CAA is that more than half of UK holidaymakers don’t consider ATOL protection as important. Research shows 43 per cent see ATOL as a ‘holiday essential’ and the CAA says the figures shows there is still a need for consumer education.
CAA Consumers and Markets Director Richard Moriarty said: “With more consumers than ever using the period between Christmas and New Year to book trips abroad, we want to make sure as many people as possible understand the benefits of the ATOL scheme.”
