Spain remains the top destination for UK holidaymakers, a new study by that examined people's travel habits over the past four decades has revealed. Over 13.6million Brits headed to the country in 2018, up from 6.7million 25 years ago, when it was also the most popular holiday hotspot.
The research, by Abta, found that visits to Mexico have also jumped. They are up 3,500 per cent since 1994. In that year only 18,778 British holidaymakers went to the country compared to 676,734 in 2018.
It also showed trips by Brits to Bulgaria have doubled in the past 25 years, with the increase set to continue with bookings for summer 2019 up 16 per cent on last year.
Croatia has also grown in popularity with only 4,757 UK holidaymakers in 1994 compared to 486,162 last year.
The study also found that there is still a strong market for traditional package holiday destinations, with almost 25million visits by Brits to Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Malta combined to last year. That's a big increase from just over 13million holidaymakers in 1994.
Abta notes that today's holidaymakers are branching out and going much further afield due to increased capacity in the airline industry and more fuel-efficient aircraft that have put long-haul trips within reach of more UK travellers.
When package holidays first became popular the Balearics, the Italian Riviera, Belgium (especially Blankenberge), Austria, Switzerland and Germany were the most booked destinations, according to Abta experts.
However, the travel association points out that the first package holidays are a far cry from today's getaways.
It says travel companies have responded to holidaymakers' changing preferences – offering packages that include tailor-made trips, tours that take people off the beaten track, adventure holidays, river and ocean cruises, well-being breaks and all-inclusives.
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