Average number of vacations abroad taken per person in the UK 2011-2022

An annual survey conducted among British consumers examined the average number of holidays abroad taken per person in the previous 12 months from 2011 to 2022. According to the 2022 study, looking at the trips made between September 2021 and August 2022, UK residents took an average of 1.3 overseas holidays per capita. While this figure denotes an increase from the 2021 survey, focusing on vacations taken during the first year of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it remained below pre-pandemic levels.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic hit outbound tourism from the UK?

As the travel restrictions enforced during the health crisis disrupted international tourism, the total number of visits abroad from the UK fell dramatically during the pandemic, reaching a record low of around 19 million in 2021. With the sharp decline in visits came a significant drop in the total UK outbound tourism expenditure, decreasing by nearly 47 billion British pounds in 2021 compared to 2019.

What are the most popular destinations for UK travelers?

Despite the significant decline in tourists caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain remained the leading outbound travel destination from the UK during the health crisis, recording over four million Britons' visits in 2021. Meanwhile, when focusing on the domestic market, the South West and South East of England were the most popular regions for summer staycations in the UK.