Consumer survey: Poll canvasses views on travel deterrents, refunds and more. Ian Taylor reports Continued from page 40 The survey found a sharp


variation by age, with younger adults showing greater intention to travel. Almost half (46%) of those aged 25-34 and 41% of 16-24-year-olds said they were likely to take a holiday abroad compared with a third (34%) of those aged 35-44 , a quarter (24%) of respondents aged 45-64 and one in five (21%) of those 65 and over. In line with these results,


parents with children showed a much greater intention (42%) than those without (26%) to take a holiday abroad. The intention rates by age


broadly matched those of six months earlier, but with a four point rise among 16-24-year- olds and a three point fall among those aged 35-44. Not surprisingly, the research


found a rise in the proportion intending to take UK domestic holidays from 45% late last year to 52% in May – with a sharp rise among younger adults. There was an increase of 11 percentage points to 50% among 16-24-year- olds and a 13-point rise to 66% among those aged 25-34. Strikingly, almost two-thirds


(65%) of parents with children said last month they were likely to take a domestic holiday, nine points up on six months earlier. But the figures remain well


down on pre-pandemic rates of intention to take domestic holidays. In October 2019, 67% of UK adults surveyed on behalf of Travel Weekly said they were likely to take a holiday or short break in the UK – a figure 15 percentage points higher than in last month’s survey.


Refund guarantee sought by half of holidaymakers


Almost one in two UK consumers planning a holiday abroad in the next 12 months want the guarantee of a cash refund if a holiday is cancelled. That is according to research on


behalf of Travel Weekly which found 47% of prospective holidaymakers want a refund guarantee. More than one-third (36%) of those intending to take a holiday


sought the flexibility to change the dates or destination for their holiday rather than a refund. However, the proportion


expecting refunds or wanting flexibility varied considerably with age. Barely one in three of those under 45 sought a refund guarantee, falling to 28% among those under 25. That compared with 65% of those aged 45 and over and 79% aged 65 and above. Demands for flexibility varied


almost as widely by age. Fewer than one in four consumers aged under 35 saw flexibility on dates or destinations as important.


However, 48% of those aged 45 and older sought flexibility and 58% of those aged 65 and above. The survey found 575 UK adults


out of a sample of 1,278 planned an overseas holiday within 12 months.


Covid rate in destination is number-one deterrent


Concern about the rate of Covid-19 in a destination is more likely to deter UK consumers from travelling on holiday than the risk of quarantine or of a destination changing from green to amber while on holiday, according to research for Travel Weekly. The research, conducted last


month among almost 1,300 UK adults, found more than half (54%) rated ‘high levels of Covid-19 in a destination’ their biggest concern when considering a holiday or short break. However, there was considerable


age variation with just 30% of 16-24-year-olds rating infection levels as a concern compared with 70% of those aged 55 and over and 58% in the 45-54 age range. Being stranded abroad due to


Covid restrictions changing was the second-greatest concern, cited by 45%, with almost as many (43%)


worried about being required to quarantine in a destination should a Covid test prove positive. These rates of concern also


varied widely by age, with just 22% of 16-24-year-olds concerned about quarantine abroad, rising to 48% among those aged 45-54 and 65% among those of 65 and above. Two in five respondents (39%)


were concerned about being required to quarantine on return to the UK, ranging from 22% among those aged 16-24 to 48% among 45-64-year-olds and 52% among those 65 and over. Perhaps surprisingly, only a third


(34%) of respondents showed concern about the classification of a country changing from green to amber while they were away. However, the survey was undertaken ahead of the restart of international travel on May 17 and almost a month before the removal of Portugal from the green list.


Barely one in 10 respondents


(9%) said they had no concerns about travelling on holiday. More than one-third (35%) of respondents were concerned about restrictions on facilities or activities in destinations. However, a higher proportion


(43%) were concerned whether health measures, such as wearing face masks, would be followed.


The research by Service Science and Kantar was conducted online among a sample of 1,278 respondents on May 4-6. 38 10 JUNE 2021 travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/agsaz


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Olivier Le Moal


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