A survey conducted in November by European low-cost carrier, easyJet, of 2,000 UK consumers indicated that 64% of them are planning on flying abroad in 2023. Holidays topped the list of most important things people planned to spend on in 2023, with 66% saying this was the most important.
70% of people surveyed agreed that they will prioritise a holiday over other expenditure in their yearly budget, and three quarters said it was one of their most important plans for next year. Of those people, some responded that, in order to prioritise their holiday, they will be cutting back on other discretionary spend like eating out (46%) or new clothes (40%) and on big purchases such as new cars or home improvements (33%).
Consumers said they are also looking at the way they travel in order to prioritise a holiday, with 66% saying they are more likely to book with a low-cost carrier, while 74% are more likely to fly short-haul instead of long haul and holiday in closer to home destinations in Europe (70%), in order to protect their holidays. The majority (80%) also believed that holidaying in the UK can be more expensive than travelling abroad.
Around half of respondents said they still plan to go on the same number of holidays that they usually plan for and spend the same amount, while around a quarter of people plan to go on more and spend more on holidays compared to last year. Half of the respondents said they are planning on taking at least one holiday in 2023, while almost a third plan to take at least two.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost all surveyed (94%) agreed that going away on holiday is one of the most enjoyable experiences. 86% said that having a holiday is a priority for them, with 57% saying this is because of the quality time it allows them to spend with friends and family and the opportunity it provides to recharge (48%), while 83% said holidays are crucial to their emotional wellbeing.
easyJet CEO, Johan Lundgren, said of the results: “Travel is one of life’s greatest pleasures and we know that holidays are important to people. Not only does travelling connect friends and family but it offers a wealth of benefits, from promoting wellbeing to experiencing new cultures. This survey goes to show just what a priority it is for people, with so many determined to protect their holidays.”