Surge In Holiday Bookings From Over-50s As COVID Jabs Come Into View

Candiece Cyrus
Forbes Staff

Updated: Apr 1, 2021, 7:56am

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Holiday company, TUI has reported a spike in bookings from customers aged over 50, as the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine program gathers pace.

Sun on the horizon for over-50s

According to a report in today’s Times, the Government is ‘increasingly confident’ that all 32 million over-50s could receive their first vaccine dose by mid to late March, while the 15 million most vulnerable people should be on target to be inoculated by 15 February.

Managing director of TUI, Andrew Flintham said: “We’re seeing more interest in holidays from an age group that wasn’t coming through before, with the over 50s starting to book, we assume, on the back of the positive vaccine news.”

He added that many Britons plan to get away for longer this year, opting for 10, 11 or 14 nights rather than seven to, “”make up for not having a holiday in 2020”.

Response to rolling vaccine news

National Express also reported a 185% increase in spring and summer holiday bookings since the start of the year, compared to the same period in 2020. Almost all of its customer base (98%) is aged 65 and over.

Head of holidays and travel at the coach tour operator, Jit Desai said: “We’ve seen an increased appetite for travel in the last week or two with an uplift in enquiries and bookings every time there’s been an announcement about new vaccine approvals and the roll-out program.

“Some of this is postponed travel carried over from last year. But there’s definitely a trend of customers being comfortable that they will have had their vaccination and be protected from Spring onwards, so can start to make travel plans.

“Some are telling us that they’ve already had their jab and can’t wait to go on holiday once guidance allows again.”

Hopes of recovery

News of an uplift cannot come soon enough for the travel industry which took a major hit during the pandemic, with tens of thousands of jobs being lost.

From 18 January, travellers arriving in England and Scotland must provide a negative COVID-19 test, taken up to 72 hours before they start their inbound journey.

Booking your own break? Find out what you need to know about travel insurance first.

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Candiece Cyrus Forbes Staff

I have been writing for newspapers, magazines and online publications for over 10 years. My passion is providing, in a way that is easily accessible and digestible to all, the knowledge needed for readers to not only manage their finances, but financially flourish.

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