- 2.2 million more travellers to take overseas breaks over Easter 2013 than last year
- 10.1 million set to head for sunnier climates to escape British weather and soak up sun
The weather has prompted a rush of holiday bookings as British travelers have made a sudden rush for sunnier climes according to O2 Travel. Over half (56%) of those travelling abroad say that the recent British weather has prompted them to take a break from the arctic conditions this year.*
Over 2.2 million more Brits will take an Easter break this year compared to last – meaning 10.1 million will head overseas this year (compared to 7.9 million in 2012) over the course of the next two weeks. Of those asked by O2 Travel, two in five (40%) of those heading abroad this year say it’s the first time they have gone overseas over Easter – driven out of the UK by the weather.
O2 has already seen use of its O2 Travel tariff reflect the exodus. The numbers of people using the internet in Europe has risen by 151% this year compared to last as holidaymakers share photographs of themselves soaking up the sun on social networks – eager to make their friends and colleagues at home aware of just how warm it is elsewhere.
And Europe is the main destination for those in search of a break from the relentless winter with over three in four (77%) heading to the continent. With temperatures in Athens, Rome, Ibiza, Barcelona and Majorca set to head above 20C, who can blame Brits for heading for the sun.
The O2 Travel research also found that travelers have been making plans “last second” rather than just last minute. One-in-six (15%) said that they had booked a last minute holiday over Easter – making arrangements in the last week, fed up with the snows that have battered the country and in need of some sunshine. The O2 Travel research found that the majority of breaks have been booked at the “last second” as 5.4 million of those heading overseas have booked their holiday in the last two weeks.
Gary Booker, Consumer GM at O2 said: “We’re all feeling the effects of a winter that seems to have dragged on longer than ever this year. And it seems that smug travelers are more than happy to show off the weather to those stuck in the cold – hitting social networks to make sure everyone back home knows just how much warmer it is elsewhere in Europe.”
O2 Travel offers data for just £1.99 a day for both Pay & Go and Pay Monthly customers.
For further information on O2 Travel, including a full list of countries included please visit www.o2.co.uk/international
* research carried out by OnePoll for O2 Travel on 26 March 2013 amongst a representative sample of 2,000 UK adults according to the Market Research Society Regulations
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