h SPECIAL EDITION


Overtourism ‘would hit travel plans’ Ian Taylor


More than half of holidaymakers would change their travel plans if aware of overtourism in a popular destination at peak times, according to research for Travel Weekly’s latest Insight Report. Exclusive consumer research in


January found 55% of those planning an overseas holiday this year agreed they would change their plans if their intended destination was “experiencing overtourism”. Two out of three holidaymakers


(62%) and almost three out of four adults with children (72%) agreed they would change their plans “if aware there had been protests against


too many visitors to a destination”. There were protests against


overtourism in a number of destinations last year, most notably in Spain and some of the Spanish islands. The significant proportion of


prospective holidaymakers saying they would switch plans if aware of protests came despite under half the respondents (46%) having heard of ‘overtourism’ in advance of the survey and only 40% being aware of protests. Younger adults were less likely


to have heard of either overtourism or the protests. Just one in three 16-34-year-olds (32%) had heard the term overtourism compared with half (53%) of those aged 45-54 and two thirds (64%) of those aged 55-plus.


Mumsnet users say deals key to secure holiday bookings


Juliet Dennis


Parents have described cost pressures as the biggest challenge and special offers as of growing importance when booking a family holiday in the current financial crisis, according to a poll by online forum Mumsnet. The research, revealed exclusively


to Travel Weekly, follows findings by The Advantage Travel Partnership that more families are looking to travel in shoulder seasons due to better deals and cooler temperatures. In the Mumsnet survey, 60% of


parents named budget constraints as their top concern. The average total holiday budget for a family in


4 6 MARCH 2025


the next year was £6,800, of which £4,025 was for a main holiday. More than 500 Mumsnet users


completed a survey in December 2024 and January 2025. Due to the cost-of-living crisis,


deals were deemed of key importance by 45% of parents surveyed, while 30% were likely to make sacrifices or savings in other areas to go away and 24% expected to take fewer holidays. Nearly a third, 29%, said they were booking earlier and putting holidays on credit to spread the cost. However, 19% said their plans


were not affected and 95% planned a holiday in the next year. Mumsnet chief executive Justine Roberts said: “Despite tightening


The T ravel Weekly Insight Report,


produced in partnership with Deloitte, is available at travelweeklyinsight.co.uk


And just 24% of those aged 16-44 had heard about protests compared with 48% of 45-54-year-olds and 62% of those aged 55 and over. The research by Service Science and Kantar was conducted on


Justine Roberts


January 3-6 among 1,281 UK adults. Service Science associate


director Tom Costley noted the “mixed responses to awareness of overtourism” but said: “There was clear support for choosing an alternative destination if travellers became aware of overtourism or local protests in a destination.” Separate research by pollster


YouGov in August last year found half those polled in Spain (54%), France (50%), the UK (48%) and Germany (49%) would support taxes on tourists to reduce overtourism, and more than half would support limits on tourist numbers – 50% in the UK, 60% in Spain, and 62% in France and Germany.


budgets, holidays remain a priority for families – and Mumsnetters are willing to make sacrifices in other areas to ensure they get away, as well as seeking out special offers and using credit to spread the cost.” Travel agency consortium


Advantage reported a family bookings slowdown for the main summer holiday but said Easter bookings were up 15% year on year. It noted a 5% shift from short-haul to long-haul bookings for summer due to similar prices in August. Premier Travel managing director


Paul Waters highlighted a “significant change in booking preferences” with families “actively seeking ways to reduce holiday costs” by booking for


Easter, May and October holidays to destinations including the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Egypt instead of Europe. He noted a recent upturn in


family bookings, adding: “Family holiday sales have been noticeably slower this year [but] the market has seen a positive shift in recent weeks.” Scottish agency Thorne Travel


said families were increasingly looking for shorter durations and choosing to fly from Manchester in the first week of July, when English schools were still open, to save £600 to £700 on holiday costs. Managing director Shona Thorne added: “Bookings have been slow for families, but they’re improving.”


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