45% of UK Travel Bookings Now Made Online - Mega.co.uk

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, October 26, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- British high streets are struggling, large supermarkets like Morrisons and Tesco were first to take a bite from the traditional high street businesses with local shops seeing takings fall as people shunned butchers and bakers for the convenience of all in one shops. Now it is the turn of the high street travel agent as a new report shows a higher than expected level of internet bookings eating into their trade.

A selection of two thousand UK holiday makers were asked about their booking methods and destinations of choice and of those questioned a massive 45% used the internet to book their travel arrangements online with only 25% still using high street agents and 28% booking direct with package holiday and tour operators.

Spain is still the most popular destination among British tourists but France, Italy and Greece were this year overtaken by the trend for a stay at home holiday which has seen more Brits than ever shunning overseas destinations in favour of UK favourites including Devon and Wales.

Many of those who travelled abroad put financial protection over price this year, something few would have considered years ago.

Director of Mega.co.uk travel Russ Beech commented: "the high profile collapse of major travel firms including Goldtrail and XL in the past couple of years has definitely impacted on the industry. In a climate where money is tight people are not taking risks with money and many view overseas travel as a risk not worth taking when a holiday in the UK seems to be risk free."

Will 2012 see the trends continue upwards?

A lot will depend on the eurozone recovery. The important thing is that even though our booking methods and destination of choice may be changing we are still taking holidays - in times of stress we need a break more than ever!

Mega Deals is a leading UK website offering cheap travel deals. For more information, comments or press reports please contact the press team at www.mega.co.uk on: [email protected]

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