The UK market is exhibiting its proven resilience. Despite the pressures of a high cost of living, sluggish economy and geo-political uncertainty, consumer demand for international holidays remains strong.
The travel trade is optimistic for 2024 and reported record trading days in the January peak booking period. Visitor numbers are tracking at around 83% of 2019 levels. Leisure travel accounts for 86% of all UK arrivals.
Familiar seasonal travel trends have returned, however average length of stay and expenditure has increased.
Buyer Snapshot
There are 48 individual Buyers registered to attend ATE24 from the UK and Northern Europe. Most are well-known returning Buyers. There are eight New Buyers, all of whom are luxury travel specialists.
Consumer Trends
Out of Region (OOR) travel for UK travellers is gaining momentum following the lull experienced during 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four in ten UK OOR travellers are High Yield Travellers (HYT), with a good spread in terms of gender, age, life stages and regions.
Approximately half of UK OOR travellers are aware of Australia as a holiday destination, with roughly three in ten considering travelling to Australia within the next 4 four years.
For UK OOR travellers Australia is strongly associated with world class beaches/coastlines/marine wildlife, having different and interesting wildlife, having an appealing climate and having good infrastructure.
Competition is fierce for OOR travel from the UK, with North America holding the largest market share.