Survey for hotel platform Hoo finds only 12% of Brits are planning a 2021 holiday

Cancellations, refunds and quarantine found to be concerns for 2,000 holidaymakers surveyed

Prospects for this summer’s overseas holiday sector look grim if the results of a survey conducted for hotel room platform Hoo play out during the peak travel season.

The firm commission Find Out Now to survey over 2,000 people in the UK finding just 12% plan to book a holiday this year which would equate to just seven million holidaymakers.

The Hoo survey found 10% of people are planning one or two trips, with just 2% aiming to get away three to five times.

The risk of cancellations and not being able to get refunds were found to be the biggest concerns, a fifth of respondents citing both of these factors.

Having to quarantine while on holiday and catching the virus were the next most prominent concerns for 17% of UK holidaymakers while quarantining on their return to the UK concerned 15%.

The vast majority of UK holidaymakers supported border restrictions with 87% saying they did not believe rules should be relaxed while 80% thought quarantine hotels are a good idea.

Hoo Co-founder, Adrian Murdock, said: “Despite hopes of lockdown easing in the spring, it looks as though many will refrain from making plans to travel abroad this year.

“In addition to the threat of Covid itself, there are a whole host of other issues to consider when looking to go abroad, from testing to quarantine, cancellations and refund issues to name but a few.

“With new strains of the virus also causing concern, it’s understandable that many holidaymakers just don’t want to commit to something this year.

“Of course, this falling demand will cause grave concerns for those in the industry, having already suffered since March of last year.

“While the current line from the government is to forget about a summer break in 2021, they will be hoping that the vaccine roll out and a potential easing of restrictions will entice more of us to take a holiday in order to help keep the industry afloat.”

The Hoo survey was carried out on January 28.