The latest data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, reveals that the domestic travel sector performed strongly, with summer staycations boosting hotels, resorts and accommodation by 4.1 per cent month-on-month.
However, international travel has been more heavily impacted by rising costs, with travel agents and airlines declining -5.0 per cent and -2.6 per cent respectively, possibly due to holidaymakers booking breaks earlier in the year and those booking last-minute trips choosing to cut back on getaways abroad.
As the cost-of-living continues to bite, Brits’ confidence in their ability to spend on non-essential items has fallen to 48 per cent – noticeably lower than July 2022 (54 per cent) and August 2021 (63 per cent). Optimism in the UK economy has also declined to 21 per cent, down from 26 per cent last month and 37 per cent in August 2021; its lowest since August 2020 (19 per cent).
The energy price increase in October is also weighing on consumers’ minds, with 32 per cent planning to cut down on discretionary spending to afford energy bills during the autumn and winter and 21 per cent reporting they can no longer afford small luxuries as a ‘pick-me-up’.
Many feel the worst is yet to come, as 82 per cent believe the cost-of-living will continue to rise, while 20 per cent cite increasing costs as having a negative impact on their mental health.
So, it remains to be seen how high up the list of priorities Balearic holidays will be next year.
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Magaluf alert! https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/massive-magaluf-investment-means-party-7595922 Truly alarming.
Ulla JacksonGermans have always been the dominant tourist nationality here, by rather large margins. Nothing new there. It's just that most Brits only go to the handful of British resorts, so they only see Brits when on holiday (with only a smattering of foreigners intermixed). So, it's only natural to believe Mallorca is a British enclave, dependent on Britain for survival. But as britain is perhaps the only country in western Europe that sees the world from an "Us vs. Them" perspective, if you apply that same notion by counting ALL non-British tourists ("them"), then Britain's share of tourism becomes much smaller. It's a bit of convenient cognitive dissonance. Brits always rule when compared to say, Luxembourgers, and only second to Germans. But if you add French, Swedish, Norwegians, Belgians, Danish, Dutch, Italians, Spanish, and all the rest of "them", then British tourism looks quite a bit less influential. So, it's better to compare with individual countries that Britain can be assured of "besting", while at the same time viewing them all as "them" in other contexts. Still, it's reassuring to know that Britain still rules. Even if it's second or third or 8th, or whatever, yet equally reassuring to Mallorca and other popular tourist destinations, that they're hardly dependent on Britain. But it's good for an occasional chuckle.
Stephen McCartneyIf people feel the pinch visiting nearby EU countries, I doubt let's say a family of four can afford US or Asia, as prices if the flights alone have increased quite a lot already. A week, which many takes, is too short to both US and Asia considering the time difference.
Stephen McCartneyAccording to this paper, the Germans are now the biggest number of visitors in Majorca, overtaking the Brits. I have a feeling so far they spend more as well than the Brits. What lays ahead is only speculations.
The forthcoming Winter increases of the cost of living. May affect the possible reduction of holidays from the UK etc. Throughout next Summer.
Stephen McCartneyYes, well, considering all the problems in British resorts, there's no shortage of Europeans that feel the same way. But to be fair, Brits do populate a few dots around the island for a couple of months per year, spending as much as 25% of all tourist revenues. I reckon that entitles Brits to get their cake and eat it, as cheap as they can get, and then complain about it. It's all relative, I suppose. But honestly, somehow I doubt this will stop Brits from coming (although they may soon not be able to afford anything, let alone the cheapness of Magaluf). But even if they can't, there's quite a few others who can, without needing all the special British stuff. Besides, it's just a few dots on the map. There's plenty of demand from this side of the channel to fill them up, if needed.
Majorca should make up it's mind! Does it want British tourists or not? Unfortunately, you can't have their money without putting up with their shit! Personally, I think UK tourists should avoid the EU and explore Asia or America instead.
It's worth pointing out that Magaluf becomes a ghost town around the 1st of November. So, yeah, I can see why there's been a decline in British bookings. It's alarming. Every year.
Balearic alert? Or Magaluf alert?
If it means less golf club wielding morons in magaluf then this is good news.