Off peak is the new peak. May and June are expected to be the most popular months for overseas breaks next year.
The number of people planning to travel during the spring or autumn is almost equal to those planning to travel during the summer, according to the poll of 2,000 adults by The Nursery Research and Planning (www.the-nursery.net) on behalf of ABTA.
Around 21pc of the respondents indicated that they would travel during these months, surpassing the percentage for October (19pc) and the traditional peak school holiday months of July and August (both 17pc).
According to ABTA, if people’s intentions are realised, May and June will be the most popular months for overseas holidays booked out of England in 2024.
ABTA suggests that affordability is likely the reason behind the potential shift in travel dates, rather than a concern about climate. Chief executive Mark Tanzer of Abta mentioned a post-pandemic trend towards out-of-season travel.
The report indicates that the current travel market is value-driven, with travel consumers seeking the best value rather than choosing the cheapest options.
Booking volumes are expected to return to pre-COVID levels in 2024, with 64pc of respondents planning an overseas holiday next year, compared to 52pc this year.
51pc of respondents plan to spend the same amount on their 2024 holiday as last year, while 28pc intend to spend more.
Spain remains the most popular destination outbound from England and Scotland, followed by France, Italy, the US, and Greece. Turkey has been growing in popularity, entering the top 10.
City breaks surpassed beach holidays as the most popular type of holiday last year. Multi-centre trips and all-inclusive packages are also trending.
Cruising has shown strong interest, with 8pc of customers booking a cruise last year. 53pc of those plan to cruise again within the next 12 months, with a growing interest in no-fly cruises.
The survey also highlighted that nearly two-thirds (64pc) of respondents plan to take an overseas trip in the next twelve months.
