Weak pound affects foreign travel
Updated on 09 November 2009
Britons are set to snub traditional holiday hotspots such as Spain and Portugal because of the weakness of the pound in a "serious threat" to UK outbound tourism, it has been revealed.
As many as 29% of those who had a summer holiday this year said sterling's exchange rate would influence their choice of destination next year, a poll by the World Travel Market (WTM) trade exhibition showed.
And a further 27% of the 1,030 people surveyed said they were undecided about where they would take a trip at a time when the pound is weak against the euro.
The Greek islands and Malta could join the Spanish costas and the Portuguese Algarve as places that will be less visited next year, according to the poll.
Holidaymakers aged between 25 and 40 will be most influenced by exchange rates, followed by those aged 16-24.
Only 19% of tourists aged over 60 said exchange rates would affect their choice of destination.
WTM chairman Fiona Jeffery said: "The worsening exchange rate is a serious threat to the UK outbound travel industry. Many British holidaymakers may find the in-resort costs - especially within the eurozone - far too high.
"On the flip side, it has the potential to give the UK (inbound) tourism industry a real boost as the UK becomes a cost-effective country to visit, especially for those countries within the eurozone."
The poll also showed that holiday costs, airport queues and security congestion were the big turn-offs for UK tourists.
As many as 51% said environmental concerns would influence their destination decisions, while 13% would stop flying because of aviation tax increases.
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