2025
9
UK Holiday Industry Review 2025
2025-02-21T10:04:21+00:00
REP47BCC536_6F7A_435B_8454_5C8126F6917F
2195
179679
[{"name":"Holidays and Vacations","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/travel\/holidays-vacations"},{"name":"Industry Bundle","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/industry-bundle"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"UK","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/uk-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
41% of UK holidaymakers say recent protests about overtourism have put them off visiting a destination. As travellers grow more aware of their environmental impact, many are turning to lesser-known…
UK
Holidays and Vacations
variable

UK Holiday Industry Review 2025

"Travellers are becoming increasingly mindful of the effects of overtourism and are showing interest in exploring lesser-known destinations."

Paul Davies - Category Director, Technology and Consumer Leisure Habits

Paul Davies - Category Director, Technology and Consumer Leisure Habits

Get the full competitive advantage.

Don’t stop at one report. Go for the industry bundle. Mintel’s industry bundles hone in on a specific industry and provides a selection of Mintel’s unparalleled market and consumer insights for deeper and more varied insights.

The UK Holidays Industry Bundle contains:

  • UK Holiday Review: A detailed analysis of the UK holiday market, examining consumer trends, market dynamics, and emerging opportunities for travel companies.
  • UK Hotels: A comprehensive overview of the UK hotel market, examining growth opportunities, market trends, consumer behaviour, and industry innovations.
  • UK Holiday Centres and Parks: An analysis of the UK holiday centres and parks sector, highlighting current trends, opportunities, and challenges, along with insights into future market dynamics.
  • UK Holiday Rental Property: An in-depth examination of the UK’s holiday rental property market, encompassing its current condition, projected growth, consumer trends, regulatory landscape, and future prospects.

Mintel’s bundles ensure the best value for you, providing an extensive overview of your market at an exclusive price. Purchase the bundle to get four full reports and save 20% on your total order.

Reports can also be purchased individually, simply make your selection before you add to basket.

UK Holiday Industry Research

Despite the rising cost of living, holidays remain a top priority for consumers. However, the focus has shifted from quantity to quality, with many opting for fewer trips than before. This shift highlights a strong desire to make each holiday truly memorable, creating an opportunity for travel companies to offer premium upgrades and luxurious experiences.

Mintel’s holiday industry market research found that over 40% of UK holidaymakers say that recent protests about overtourism have put them off visiting a destination. As travellers grow more aware of their environmental impact, many are turning to lesser-known regions that promise both authenticity and a more sustainable travel experience.

Meanwhile, extreme weather patterns, coupled with financial uncertainty, are driving more people to opt for last-minute holiday bookings. Brands have an opportunity to alert consumers to last-minute deals in locations where good weather is predicted for the coming period, or to fill vacancies when a late notice cancellation has happened.

The number of UK holidaymakers taking overseas trips has reached pre-pandemic levels

UK Holiday Industry Review – What’s Inside?

Key Topics Analysed in the Report

  • The performance of domestic versus overseas holidays, and how rising prices are impacting the number and type of trips people take
  • The impact of overtourism on popular destinations and how travel companies can help holidaymakers to explore alternatives
  • How far in advance people book accommodation and transport for their holiday, and how brands can capitalise on last-minute bookers
  • How consumers are demanding more authentic holiday experiences and personalised itenaries

Report Scope

This Report examines the habits and attitudes of British adults aged 16 or over towards holiday-taking in the UK and abroad. For the purposes of this Report, Mintel defined a holiday as a stay of at least one night that is primarily for leisure purposes. Business trips and visiting friends or relatives are not included.

Market size and forecast data refer to holidays taken within Great Britain, in line with the Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS).

Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • Opportunities for the travel market
    • Bring lesser-known holiday destinations to the forefront
    • Target last-minute domestic holidaymakers
    • Offer personalised itineraries for luxury travellers
    • Market dynamics and outlook
    • Market size & forecast
    • Market predictions
    • Value of domestic holidays set for steady growth
    • Overseas holidays will continue to outperform staycations
    • Intentions to book signal that holidays remain a consumer priority
    • Graph 1: plans to book a holiday in the next three months, 2023 and 2024
    • What consumers want and why
    • Holiday participation in the year to October 2024 remained level
    • Graph 2: destinations visited on holiday in the past 12 months, 2019-24
    • Overseas summer beach holidays continue to attract Brits
    • Graph 3: future holidaying intentions abroad, by holiday type, 2022-24
    • Half of overseas holidaymakers plan to spend over £1,000 per adult on their most expensive holiday
    • Graph 4: spending on UK and abroad holidays, 2024
    • Holidaymakers most likely to book accommodation and transport 1-5 months in advance
    • Graph 5: transport booking lead times, 2024
    • Graph 6: accommodation booking lead times, 2024
    • Three in four holidaymakers seek authentic experiences
    • Graph 7: holiday preferences and behaviours, 2024
    • Innovation and marketing
    • Airlines roll out expansion plans
    • Rewarding sustainable travel
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market size – domestic holidays
    • Boom in staycations tails off
    • Graph 8: volume of domestic holidays taken by British residents, 2019-24
    • Increase in average prices drives up market value
    • Graph 9: value of domestic holidays taken by British residents, 2019-24
    • Average cost of a staycation has increased by 30% over five years
    • Market size – overseas holidays
    • Number of overseas holidays back to pre-pandemic level
    • Graph 10: volume of overseas holidays taken by UK residents, 2019-24
    • Growing demand and rising prices boost market value
    • Graph 11: value of holidays taken by UK residents, 2019-24
    • Average cost of an overseas holiday reaches new high
    • Market forecast – domestic holidays
    • Number of staycations expected to edge up slightly
    • Value of domestic holidays set for steady growth
    • Lingering caution and desire for overseas getaways will restrict growth
    • Market forecast – overseas holidays
    • Overseas holiday market poised to outperform domestic segment in both volume…
    • …and value terms
    • Overseas holidays will remain a priority for many Brits
    • Market drivers
    • Financial wellbeing fluctuates with economic uncertainty
    • Graph 12: the financial wellbeing index, 2016-24
    • The cost of living crisis continues to bite
    • Graph 13: perception of the state of the cost of living crisis in the UK, 2024
    • Participation in booking holidays fell at the end of 2024…
    • Graph 14: holiday bookings in the last three months, 2023 and 2024
    • …but intentions to book point to a strong start to 2025
    • Graph 15: plans to book a holiday in the next three months, 2023 and 2024
  3. WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY

    • Holiday destinations – visited
    • Holiday participation in the year to October 2024 remained level
    • Graph 16: destinations visited on holiday in the past 12 months, 2019-24
    • Domestic tourism remains popular
    • Long-haul holidays near pre-pandemic levels
    • Over half of Brits visited destinations across England in the year to October 2024
    • Graph 17: destinations visited on holiday in the past 12 months, by country, 2020-24
    • Spain maintains its popularity among Brits
    • Holiday destinations – future intentions
    • Three in four Brits intend to take a holiday within the next year
    • Graph 18: intentions to visit destinations, 2020-24
    • Plans to visit overseas destinations have taken a step back
    • England retains its appeal as a holiday destination in the coming year
    • Graph 19: intentions to visit destinations, by country, 2020-24
    • A third of UK holidaymakers planning to visit Spain also intend to visit other European destinations
    • Spotlight destinations on par with Spain
    • Holiday types – future intentions
    • UK city breaks continue to appeal
    • Graph 20: future holidaying intentions in the UK, by holiday type, 2022-24
    • Appeal to luxury domestic summer beach holidaymakers
    • Incorporate authentic experiences in UK camping and caravan park holidays
    • Overseas summer beach holidays continue to attract Brits
    • Graph 21: future holidaying intentions abroad, by holiday type, 2022-24
    • Engage overseas beach holidaymakers with new European destination package holidays
    • The future of cross-Channel rail services has potential to boost overseas city breaks
    • Holiday spending
    • Half of overseas holidaymakers plan to spend over £1,000 per adult on their most expensive holiday
    • Graph 22: spending on UK and abroad holidays, 2024
    • Holiday budgets remain level
    • Support holidaymakers with booking low-priced overseas trips
    • Booking lead times
    • Holidaymakers most likely to book accommodation and transport 1-5 months in advance
    • Graph 23: accommodation booking lead times, 2024
    • Graph 24: transport booking lead times, 2024
    • Opportunity to target last-minute domestic holidaymakers
    • Offer weather insurance to last-minute UK holidaymakers
    • Holiday preferences and behaviours
    • Three in four holidaymakers seek authentic experiences
    • Graph 25: holiday preferences and behaviours, 2024
    • Promote lesser-known European destinations for travellers interested in authentic experiences
    • Tap into demand for authentic experiences
    • Assist holidaymakers with sustainable travel
    • Holidaymakers willing to pay for personalised itineraries express interest in different types of holidays each year and flexibility
    • Offer personalised itineraries for luxury travellers
    • Graph 26: consumer behaviour relating to paying more for a personalised itinerary, by household income, 2024
    • Offer flexibility in travel itineraries
    • A quarter of holidaymakers intending to visit cheaper destinations due to rising costs will spend less than £500 per adult on an overseas holiday
    • Promote budget-friendly holiday destinations
    • Bring lesser-known holiday destinations to the forefront
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • New SAF mandate for the UK in 2025
    • MSC Cruises expands global partnership with Formula 1
    • easyJet announces more new routes and UK fleet growth for 2025
    • British Airways launches new rewards system
    • New activities launching at Center Parcs in 2025
    • Jet2 launching at London Luton Airport
    • Rewarding sustainable travel
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market forecast data and methodology
    • Volume forecast and prediction intervals for total holidays
    • Value forecast and prediction intervals for total holidays
    • Volume forecast and prediction intervals for domestic holidays
    • Value forecast and prediction intervals for domestic holidays
    • Volume forecast and prediction intervals for overseas holidays
    • Value forecast and prediction intervals for overseas holidays
    • Forecast methodology
    • Report scope and definitions
    • Market definition
    • Abbreviations and terms
    • Consumer research methodology

Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel

The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:

  • Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
  • Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
  • Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
  • Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.

What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?

Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.

The Four Pillars of Our Research

We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:

  • Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
  • Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
  • Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
  • Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.

Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.

For a closer look at a Mintel Market Intelligence Report, take a look at the sample PDF report below:
Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables in this sample report have been redacted.
(Excl.Tax)
  • Download today with instant access
  • Multiple formats provided
  • Interactive databook included

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more

Trusted by global industry leaders

VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
Deutsch logo

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Wincanton logo

When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.

They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.

So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.

Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more