A new survey of young British holidaymakers has revealed that partying is low on their agenda when choosing vacation types and destinations.
Young travellers and Brits in particular are reputed to be party animals, notorious for bad behaviour abroad. The problem has become so pronounced in some places that local authorities have legislated against “obscene” outfits and large groups of revellers, and have even run “Stay Away” campaigns to discourage certain types of visitors from booking trips.
Yes to landmarks, no to “tacky resorts”
But the latest research, by airport parking company SkyParkSecure, suggests that youth preferences are changing. It asked 1,000 people aged 18-to-32 about their travel preferences and the results found that these days only five percent of them want to go on a party holiday. What’s more, 46% would take it even further, preferring to go away with their family than with their friends. 14% said they planning a trip alone.
And bucking the clichés even further, only 14% think that proximity to good bars and night clubs is an important factor when deciding on a destination. SkyParkSecure cites 23-year-old Tom as a case in point. A keen traveller who has been to New York, Dublin, and Lisbon and interrailed around Euope, he told them: “I’ve never done a cheap party holiday such as Zante, and I don’t plan to,” and added: “I just rather spend my money on visiting a city full of history. Mu first break at 18 was Prague. This is much preferred over a tacky resort which I’d spend all my time in being hungover.”
23% would “never” choose a party holiday
It was slightly older consumers aged 26-32 who made up most of the 36% who have been on a party holiday, favouring Ibiza and Zante, and want to repeat the experience. Tom meanwhile is representative of his 18-25 age group, who made up the majority of the 23% who would “never” choose a party-oriented resort. Instead 29% of young people look at the number of famous landmarks they can visit.
Beach holidays are a draw for 23%, and 10% want a couples break or an adventure holiday. And reflecting recent Travel Tomorrow interviews about “small tourism”, holidays based in big cities are only appealing to nine per cent of respondents.
One strong influence on destination choice is the weather, which 40% of those surveyed said was important, while 36% said price was the biggest factor.
When it comes to paying, nearly 30% of young people use a credit card to meet the cost of their trip, spending a £750 (about €892) on average. 65% of them said they need to dip into savings to be able to afford a trip. A lucky 10% would treat themselves to a single holiday worth upward of £2,000 (around €2,380).
