Weekend socialising prompts search spike, eDreams reports

Trends mirror UK government policy changes

European OTA eDreams ODIGEO has reported search data spikes at the end of the weekend and into the week as “socialising with friends and family over weekends” returns.

The company said that, since May, search data has generally reflected how responsive customers were around travel policy changes imposed by the UK government.

Yesterday’s update saw just modest changes, with seven countries added to the UK’s green list while Thailand and Montenegro were moved to the red list.

However, those “significant spikes” have now started to level out with the OTA’s latest data showing upturns over the latter part of the weekend and into the following week.

Chief travel officer Pablo Caspers said: “This pattern has been increasingly consistent since Covid-19 restrictions lifted in the UK and as people returned to more familiar lifestyle patterns of working in offices and socialising with friends and family over weekends.

“Quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travellers bring a degree of assurance and stability, giving the confidence to book and increased familiarity with travel rules.”