TRAVEL: Recovery is sparking a new holiday boom

ONE in three of us is taking more holidays than five years ago according to recent survey from AA Travel Insurance.

The survey of over 5,700 people indicates that when it comes to our holidays, any lingering signs of recession are being blown out of the water.

“There’s a general feeling that people appear to be better off than they were in 2011,” says AA Director Consumer Affairs Conor Faughnan. “Although I think most people would say that while it doesn’t feel like a boom, there is definitely more confidence and more of a willingness to spend on holidays.”

The results may be good news for travel agents but it’s not so hot for the Irish tourism industry with 25 per cent of us claiming it’s cheaper to holiday abroad than here in Ireland.

There is some good news for Irish tourism bosses though, as just seven per cent believe that Ireland has lost its spark as a holiday destination.

The AA Travel Insurance survey also asked why travellers are planning to take more holidays, with 42 per cent attributing their jet-set lifestyle to more free time.

A further 34 per cent say they now have more disposable income than five years ago.

The research finds that more pressure at the office is also a big factor in taking to the skies, with almost one in four saying they “need a regular escape from work”.

“If you are going to travel more than once in a year, an annual multi-trip policy can work out cheaper and more convenient than buying a single trip policy each time you go away,” Faughnan reminds us.

“Disasters don’t just happen on long trips abroad, so it’s worth taking out some cover if only just to hop over to Paris for a long weekend.”

Those aged between 17 and 24 years old are most likely to jet off on more breaks this year (31 per cent), with almost two-thirds citing “more money” as the deciding factor.

Globetrotters in the 36-45 age bracket are most likely to pull back on their jet-setting this year, while 40 per cent of all travellers are likely to take the same number of breaks as five years ago.

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AA Travel Insurance survey findings:

Will you now take more, less or the same holidays/short breaks abroad than you did 5 years ago?

• Definitely take more – 9.31%

• Probably take more -19.34%

• Take same – 37.35%

• Probably take less – 17.04%

• Definitely take less – 11.24%

• Haven’t thought about it – 6.12%

For which of the following reasons will you take more holidays/short breaks than you did five years ago? 

• Cheaper than holidaying in Ireland – 26.63%

• More free time – 42.13%

• More money – 34.19%

• Need a more regular escape from work – 23.13%

• Ireland is less appealing than it used to be – 7.38%