Holidays no longer just a luxury for cash-strapped Brits
Household bills may be soaring, but Britons are refusing to sacrifice their annual holiday in order to pay the bills, latest figures suggest.
Despite increases in the cost of food, housing, transport and taxes, searches and bookings for holidays have remained strong, according to travel experts.
Multicom, the technology firm behind millions of travel searches and bookings made either online or via travel agents, said the number of bookings made during the first three months of 2008 was up more than 40 per cent .
This is in contrast with large parts of the retail sector, where major High Street companies are suffering some of their most difficult trading for years.
Chris Nourse, of Multicom, said: “Years ago, holidays abroad were seen as a luxury for the few who could afford them.
“Now, it seems they are being seen more and more as an essential which people refuse to give up just because they have less money in their pocket after paying their other bills.
“We’re not saying that the travel industry won’t find it hard if household inflation continues to outstrip people’s pay rises, but from what we’ve seen so far, the industry might be less susceptible than had previously been thought.”
Travel agents and websites use Multicom’s FindandBook service to provide bookable data from suppliers of flights, accommodation, package holidays, Eurostar and extras such as car hire.
The result is that the company is in an ideal position to monitor consumer trends regarding their holiday plans, regardless of whether they book online, through a call centre or via a High Street agent.