Online bookings on the increase

The latest TNS consumer insight for Travel Weekly underlines the popularity of digital channels. Ian Taylor reports Two thirds of UK adults planning an overseas holiday or break intend to book online this year, according to research for Travel Weekly. A survey of more than 2,000 adults by TNS in early February suggests up to 20 million could book their travel online, compared with more than eight million with a high street agent or by phone. Researchers found that 42% of respondents (including those not planning an overseas holiday) said they would book online, 12% on the high street and 5% by phone. Of course, booking online does not have to mean going direct or buying from someone outside the trade. Few high street retailers fail to sell online; Tui Travel reported 37% of its summer 2013 bookings were made online up to early February and expects this proportion to increase this year. However, the results confirm consumers are increasingly at ease booking all kinds of holidays – including package holidays – on the internet. Young adults are clearly most at ease: 55% of 16 to 34-year-olds said they would book a holiday or break online, against 25% of over‑55s. The proportion of student online-travel bookers (60%) was three times higher than those of retired age (20%). More than half (54%) of adults in better-off households expected to book online, as did a similar proportion (52%) of those with children living at home. Londoners and those in the southeast showed a similar propensity to book on the internet (54%), while less than one-third did so in Yorkshire, the East Midlands and Scotland and just 36% across the north – suggesting a digital divide. However, the greatest variation in the survey results was in the proportion planning to take an overseas holiday, rather than how they would book it. TNS found more than one third (36%) of respondents did not expect to go overseas in 2013 and a further 4% were undecided. That suggests 60% intend to have a holiday abroad – a healthy market in light of previous research showing less than half the adult population (44%) are likely to go away in any year. It is important to note people often express an intention to go abroad at this time of year but subsequently fail to do so – the young being especially prone to this. February’s TNS survey found three-quarters of 16 to 24-year-olds planned an overseas holiday (and 56% intended to book online). Yet previous TNS research which asked 16 to 24-year-olds whether they had a holiday abroad in the past 12 months found 60% had not. Almost half (48%) of adults over 55 said they were not planning an overseas holiday this year; neither were half the adults in less well-off households (47%). Most adults with children did plan a holiday (68%), compared with 56% of those with no children. But the former appear more dependent on finding a cheap holiday – 38% of those with children identifying price as an important factor in whether they go away, against 28% of those without children. TNS group director of travel Tom Costley noted “significant age variations” in online booking habits but said: “The proportion choosing to book via a high street agent does not vary to any significant extent, irrespective of age.” He added: “It’s evident that being able to access a cheap price allows some to go on a holiday which might otherwise not be available to them.”

How funny is that

On the way to Cyprus

New TV Series

Channel 4 seeks individuals looking to become business owners
New TV series set to focus on families and couples relocating to buy a business


Wed February 2013 12:18


Channel 4 is looking for would-be entrepreneurs who are considering relocating with their families or partners to buy an existing business.

Seeking participants of all ages, the series will provide successful entrants with a dedicated research team, who will look into viable business and relocation options across the UK and Europe.

Named Compare Your Life, the series will then reveal various tailor-made business and relocation options to the candidates, based on their priorities and budget.

The show, which is set to be produced by True North Productions, is seeking candidates who require advice about both the UK and European property markets and the start-up process.

For more information contact compareyourlife@truenorth.tv.

It's time to relocate

8 out of 10 British expats don't plan to return home, according to new research. The survey, conducted by Lloyds TSB International, found that 79 per cent of expats said they would not go back to the UK, a significant rise from 60 per cent two years ago.

Lloyds TSB International asked 1,168 expats from 13 popular countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, UAE and USA, and found that most preferred their new lives abroad than their old ones at home. Those living in Australia were the least likely to return, with 9 in 10 planning to live their "indefinitely", according to The Telegraph.

France, meanwhile, topped the list in terms of expat happiness, while 74% of expats said that they enjoyed a better quality of life since they moved to their new home. On the other hand, only 7% said that they experienced a better quality of life while living in Britain.

The increasing number of people choosing to move overseas permanently follows fears that the UK is about to enter a triple-dip recession.

In 2010, the global economic crisis forced a large number of expats in Europe to return to Britain due to financial concerns, according to currency dealer Moneycorp. Now, though, the economic doom and gloom is driving more and more people away. Lloyds TSB's poll found that over one in four people (26 per cent) named the economy as a motivating factor in their decision to head abroad - up from 17 per cent a year and a half ago.

Another report from Barret Values Centre, presented to the government last week, highlights the unhappiness in the UK. People living in Britain value meaningful, close relationships and operate with a strong sense of integrity. The top personal values include caring, family, honesty, humour and fun, friendship, fairness and compassion, as well as independence, respect and trust.

While many experience this in their local communities, what they see in the country as a whole is markedly different: the top values people see in the UK are bureaucracy, crime and violence, uncertainty about the future, corruption, blame, wasted resources, media influence, conflict/aggression, drugs/alcohol abuse and apathy.

Phil Clothier, CEO of BVC, commented: "It is quite disturbing to see the level of discontent that exists at a national level.

"Among the top terms people use to characterize the national picture we find bureaucracy, crime, violence, uncertainty about the future, corruption, blame and wasted resources. Citizens do not perceive that our UK society is operating as they want it to."

The study also measured the level of dysfunction people feel exists in the UK and their local community, described in the report as ‘cultural entropy'. The results show a 59% level of cultural entropy at the national level, compared to just 22% at a community level - one of the highest levels in the nine European countries studied by the firm to date.

With cultural entropy high and finances low, it is arguably no wonder that expats are happier out of the country. Statistics have repeatedly shown that the UK is one of the unhealthiest cities in the continent thanks to poor air quality - compared to Berlin, which has the best - while life expectancy is 80.4 years, a whole year below France.

Richard Musty, private bank director at Lloyds TSB International, said: "Expats are increasingly turning temporary overseas work into a permanent move and it does seem that the UK is losing its allure for many people who have experienced different cultures and lifestyles. Availability of jobs and the cost of living certainly plays a role, but as our research shows, lifestyle factors can also be decisive in where people chose to live."

Thinking of leaving the UK?

Lamvia Group

Our first blog is out today Monday 4th Feb at 23:15hrs.  We recently launched our website, our Facebook likes is currently 75 and growing.  Our fingers can't stop tweeting and following.