Long-Haul Flight Travel Trends

British holidaymakers’ top destinations

Whether you are looking to steal some winter sun or you want to fling yourself into a new culture, long haul flights are often part and parcel of going on holiday.

France and Spain are still the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers by some way, but long haul flights have grown exponentially over the last two decades, despite a dip that followed the 2008-09 recession.

In the graphics below, we look at how flights to the 10 most popular long haul destinations have changed since 1995. The figures are based on data derived from the Office for National Statistics’ International Passenger Survey.

1. USA

The USA is the most popular long-haul destination for Brits, with up to 3 million holidaymakers crossing the pond each year. While families favour Orlando and California for the Disney theme parks – cities like New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are all hugely popular.

2. Canada

Often described as a friendlier, more liberal cousin to the USA, this stunningly beautiful country has plenty to offer holidaymakers. Sports have been a big focus for the Canadian tourist boards, culminating in the Winter Olympics of 2010, held in Vancouver. Although Canada is still a hugely popular destination, the data from the ONS suggests that around half as many Brits are holidaying in Canada today as they were in 2006.

3. India

4. Mexico

British leisure tourism to Mexico has grown dramatically over the last 20 years, with Cancún driving most of this growth. The city is famed for non-stop partying during the spring, but the beauty of its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters can be enjoyed all year round. In 2012, Mexico was the centre of attention as the end of the Mayan Calendar grew nearer, and so-called ‘end-of the-world tourism’ took off.

5. Thailand

Whether you’re more interested in the ancient temples or the decadent beach parties, it’s no surprise that the number of Brits visiting Thailand has been rising steadily over the last two decades. Perhaps some were taking inspiration from Leonardo Di Caprio in The Beach which was set at Maya Bay, a stunning beach cove located 30 minutes away from the popular Ko Phi Phi.

Thailand made an incredible recovery following the devastating Tsunami in 2004, so much so that in 2013, it was voted the most popular destination for backpackers. Famed for its vibrant cuisine and magical jungles, interest in Thailand looks set to keep on growing.

6. United Arab Emirates

7. South Africa

8. Australia

9. Jamaica

As many as 150,000 British holidaymakers are drawn to the sights and sounds of Jamaica each year. The numbers have fluctuated considerably over the last two decades, but there’s been promising growth since 2013. Jamaican golden boy Usain Bolt has helped promote his home nation, starring in advertising campaigns promoting tourism. The local economy also received a boost as 2000 new hotel rooms were created in 2012, leading to a record number of visits from Brits in 2015.

10. Barbados

There’s plenty of competition from other Caribbean islands, but with its welcoming beach resorts, colourful culture and bountiful seafood, Barbados is still a mainstay for Brits, and like Jamaica, it has seen a post-recession recovery. Barbados-native Rhianna starred in a campaign promoting the island which proved very popular. This, combined with new routes from the UK seemed to give Barbados’ tourism industry the boost it needed towards the end of 2015.