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It is expected that approximately five million British citizens will travel overseas during the holiday season, seeking to avoid the chilly weather and the effort involved in celebrating Christmas at home.
The upcoming weeks, specifically the time frame of December 23-27, are predicted to be among the most crowded in terms of travel this year.
The desire for winter sun seems to be in high demand, with vacations to Greece and Spain being the top choices for short-distance travel, along with journeys to the Caribbean.
In December, the weather is chilly and the days are shorter, resulting in more darkness. For those of us with renewing leave allowances in January, there may be remaining days to take off. With two bank holidays coinciding with Christmas and New Year, this is an ideal opportunity to use up those remaining days. According to Chris Webber, head of holidays and deals at TravelSupermarket, this is a prime time to make the most of our leave allowances.
“After a busy autumn filled with office shutdowns and school holidays, many are now anticipating a well-deserved and relaxing break, with or without their families.”
On Friday, December 22nd, major airports in the UK are expected to experience their busiest day during the holiday season. The day after, there will be a significant number of people at rail stations as they try to reach their Christmas destination before construction disruptions start.
New data reveals that London Heathrow airport will experience high levels of activity similar to a summer peak day on the final Friday before Christmas, known as “Flyaway Friday”. The same date, December 22nd, is predicted to have the highest demand for flights at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Liverpool airports as well, according to information obtained by The Independent.
David Child, the head of communications for Thomas Cook, stated that purchasing experiences as gifts is increasingly popular. He also noted a surge in last-minute reservations for families and couples who are choosing to plan a holiday escape during the Christmas season.
Undoubtedly, individuals are eager to bypass the task of purchasing gifts and stocking the fridge for a Christmas celebration at their residence.
The desire to go on trips increases as the travel industry bounces back after facing significant challenges due to the pandemic and rising living costs, which greatly affected people’s ability to take vacations.
According to recent data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourism is expected to rebound and reach nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. In the first nine months of the year, approximately 975 million individuals traveled abroad, marking a 38% increase from the same time last year.
The UNWTO’s secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, described the return of travel as crucial for destinations, businesses, and communities that heavily rely on the sector.
According to recent findings from Lloyds Bank, there has been an increase in non-essential expenses, mainly due to a strong desire for vacationing. The data shows a 17.1% rise in spending compared to the previous year.
According to Marc Lien, the managing director of credit cards at Lloyds Bank, even though there are worries about rising living expenses, individuals still desire to interact with others and have something to anticipate for a vacation.
Source: independent.co.uk
