The changing face of UK holidaymakers

The profile of the British holidaymaker is changing to reflect the socio-economic circumstances of UK residents, new research reveals.

A study undertaken by Mintel for Thomas Cook has reported three emerging trends among UK holidaymakers.

First of all, there has been a rise in the number of couples who choose not to get married, but do not want to miss out on a honeymoon-style trip and so visit exotic locations such as the Maldives and Mexico in what the report authors dubbed 'phoneymooning'.

Recent years have also seen a rise in the number of 'Babymooners' – couples who are perhaps used to travelling a lot in their younger years and want to have one last trip together before starting a family.

Meanwhile, the number of older Britons taking their grandchildren on holiday has also increased.

Interestingly, the survey also revealed that Britons are more concerned about the weather in a potential destination than whether or not it is likely that a terrorist attack will occur there.

Some 49 per cent of the respondents surveyed said they felt terrorist attacks were less likely today than they were five years ago.

A Thomas Cook statement said: "The scorching British weather clearly persuaded some people to stay at home. It's a case of never mind terror threats, how's the weather?"

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