Britons Looking for Cheaper Holidays

The credit crunch is encouraging Britons to seek out cheap holiday options, according to one travel industry organisation. The Air Transport Users Council (ATUC) has suggested that instead of cutting back on overseas travel, consumers are looking for cheaper deals.

James Fremantle, industry affairs manager at the ATUC, explained that people are still looking for overseas breaks but are exploring alternative destinations and going for less-expensive package deals.

He said that contrary to figures from National Express suggesting that one in five Britons have chosen not to holiday abroad this year, people are merely "downgrading" from one type of holiday to another.

"I think air travel is one of the first things people do cut back on, particularly when there is a recession. Some tour operators are actually reporting pretty good numbers, so it looks as if people are just downgrading their holidays," Mr Freemantle commented.

"They are still going away, but downgrading from certain holidays to cheaper package holidays."

The National Express survey found that over a third of those polled are choosing to stay in the UK this summer in order to beat the cost of holidaying abroad. Add-on charges, check-in delays and the threat of lost luggage are among the top reasons Britons gave for staying at home.