Single travellers priced out of holidays
Recent research has found that almost half of single Britons did not take a holiday in 2012 and they blame the travel industry for pricing them out of the holiday market!
The main reason for choosing not to take a holiday is because the costs of travelling on your own prove to be very expensive if you wish to travel abroad. A large number of single holidaymakers said that they would travel on their own if the prices were not geared towards couple, families or group of friends according to the analysts Mintel.
Their research found that 45% of those holidaymakers who were not married, divorced or widowed did not take a foreign holiday last year compared to only 28% of married couples. Package holidays are generally a lot more expensive for anyone travelling on their own or in a group totalling an odd number as well as accommodation, car hire and other holiday essentials. Approximately 12% of British holidaymakers were not overly comfortable with travelling to places on their own, this figure increased to 19% for females.
The results from Mintel found that 49% of single adults said that the main reason for them not taking a holiday is because they are deterred by the prices charged by holiday companies and feel penalised by the extra expense incurred as they wish to travel alone – single room supplements is just one of these inconveniences. Only 20% are actually put off from going on holiday simply because they have no-one to go with.
Recent census figures have shown that at least 53% of the adult population of England and Wales are either unmarried, divorced or widowed. This figure is up from 32% in 1971. Out of these figures, only 12% are actually single as the majority of co-habiting with a partner.
Many of the travel companies out in the market are investing a lot of time, money and energy into the 'couples only' brand. There is very little to offer the single traveller apart from escorted group tours which are not always suitable. This research has shown that the present travel industry needs to wake up and start providing more for the single holidaymaker and if they do decide to speak to this particular demographic, they are sure to be rewarded with loyalty from their customers!