ABTA: Greece in Top 10 Destinations for UK Travelers in 2021

Santorini, Greece. Photo: GTP

Greece is among the top 10 overseas destinations UK travelers plan to visit in 2021, according to ABTA’s (Association of British Travel Agents) “Six Trends for Travel in 2021” report released this week.

A closer look at findings based on expert insight and research, as well as booking data from ABTA members reveals that Britons are now 20 percent more likely to turn to a tourism professional for guidance than they were before the pandemic and that vacation packages appear to be gaining ground.

Source: ABTA

ABTA data also found an increase in the number of people wishing to book a holiday next year, with 62 percent saying they hope to book a trip abroad in the next six months compared to 52 percent in August 2020.

In the Covid-19 age, two in five cited safety of organized holidays (41 percent) and up-to-date travel agency advice (40 percent) as the main factors affecting travel.

Placing priority on safety and certainty, and in view of reassurances afforded by a package holiday, vacationers are more likely to book packages next year, with 23 percent saying they have booked for financial protection – up from 19 percent – and almost one in five (19 percent) saying they wanted someone to take care of them in case something went wrong – up from 16 percent.

ABTA says the results are a “testament to the many agents and operators who went the extra mile to help customers this year,  including getting them back home when borders started to shut due to the spread of coronavirus”.

Other key findings include a strong interest in cruise holidays, an increase in outdoor holidays and responsible tourism as well as holidaymakers seeking the expertise of a travel professional.

According to ABTA, the top three overseas destinations for UK travelers in 2021 are Spain (33 percent), France (19 percent), and the US (17 percent).

Italy followed in fourth spot with 16 percent, Greece (14 percent), Portugal (9 percent), Germany (8 percent), Croatia (5 percent), Netherlands (4 percent), and Australia (4 percent).

Other takeaways: many travelers will seek out favorite destinations they know and love with a large percentage planning to see “something new”.