The weakening of the pound against other currencies led to a booking boom in the UK.
With a strong dollar, it’s the best time for Americans to be planning UK and EU travel for 2023, particularly when transatlantic travel — in both directions — looks set to be busy next summer.
Americans are booking up travel to Europe and the U.K.
Recent research conducted by Allianz Partners suggests that the strong dollar has fueled a renaissance for holiday travel abroad. Read also : Small business faces big challenges: Inflation, recession and 18-hour days. After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 European Holiday Destination Index shows London in first place, up 20% in bookings from 2019.
For the UK tourist industry, bookings from the US are the best they have been since October 2019, before the pandemic hit—for visiting Americans, UK travel is sale.
Similarly, with the dollar reaching parity with the euro, American tourists are also booking trips to European capitals, notably Paris, Madrid, Rome and Amsterdam. Portugal is up an astonishing 173% on 2019 numbers.
For anyone working in the UK travel sector this is great news after a difficult few years for travel. The average American spends three times the amount of a native British person traveling domestically. So visiting tourists are more sought after than those in the travel industry, and with Chinese visitors still barred (the UK’s second largest inbound market), this leaves Americans, who normally they are the number one market to enter. Likewise, it’s suddenly good news for US travel agents after two years of a pandemic hiatus.
The Queen’s death and the pomp and pageantry that accompanied it have been widely credited with boosting British tourism, with panoramic photos of Scotland and London providing the best publicity to illustrate the story , the buildings and countryside of Great Britain. Sheela Agarwal, professor of tourism management at Plymouth Business School, said of the funeral: “it’s horrible publicity, isn’t it?”—but added, “it’s publicity.”
It’s something Politico has called ‘boom time for the U.K. brand.’ and it will probably increase now that the coronation of King Charles and an accompanying public holiday have been announced for May 2023.
U.K. Tourists Expected To Visit U.S. in Full Force in 2023
Similarly, Chris Thompson, CEO of Brand USA, the organization charged by the US government to promote international travel to the US, is bullish on travel in the opposite direction across the Atlantic in 2023. Thompson said that “the economic headwinds have not discouraged the UK traveler, which is indicative of their affinity for the United States.”
Tourists from the United States account for a large portion of the US tourist industry—in 2019, the United Kingdom was the third largest market for visitors to the United States and the fourth highest spending. To see also : The Ministry of Health changes the public health emergency order | NMDOH – Updates on the corona virus.
Brand USA expects UK visitor numbers in 2023 to surpass 2019 arrivals. Thompson added, “since the reopening of our borders last November, we have seen a strong increase in visitors from the UK with 2.5 million visitors so far this year.” (4.4 million UK tourists are expected in 2023).
However, Thompson was keen to highlight how the nature of travel from the UK to the US could change in the coming months, post-Covid-19. “For example, we are seeing travel trends change from fewer but longer vacations, using loyalty programs, and maximizing their dollars through incentives such as restaurant weeks, City Pass, and travel during the season of the shoulder.”
It’s Advantageous To Book 2023 U.S./U.K/EU Tickets Now
While it may still be eight or nine months until people board planes to travel to Europe or London, it is generally best to book international flights well in advance (6-8 months) to get the better offers on those flights as well as those in the destination country (onward flights, trains, etc. This may interest you : NATO does not need to carry European defense.).
This means that anyone traveling in the summer of 2023 should, at the very least, be well-versed in their research on destination countries and itineraries. Travelers are very unlikely to find deals after four months before departure (unless they are at the last minute).
Furthermore, after a very complicated summer of travel, combined with the war in Ukraine and the energy and cost of living crises, it is clear that the next few months are likely to offer more turbulence, more rather than less.
The main takeaway should be for travelers to do their research, book early and always, always get travel insurance against anything and everything that happens.
Will planes be cheaper in the future?
Cheap flights aren’t going anywhere just yet Good news for people planning to fly on a budget: You can still find deals on airfare in 2022. “Domestic airfare is down 19 percent from where we were in January 2019,” says Adit Damodaran, economist for flight and hotel booking app Hopper.
Are plane prices going up or down? Last month’s CPI report showed that air fares rise 33% annually. Airline ticket prices have risen much faster than general inflation during the pandemic recovery due to several factors. Industry came to a virtual standstill in the early days of the pandemic and recovery was initially slow.
Will flights get cheaper in 2023?
Recent estimates indicate that air fares will rise more than 8% in 2023. And while this may not seem like an alarmingly large increase, given that travel has already become expensive, it could put many people in a difficult spot next year.
Will planes get cheaper?
Hopper released a report earlier in 2022 predicting that fares will drop by the end of July and, according to CNBC, the average cost of domestic round-trip flights fell from $413 in May to $375 by 14 ‘ July. In August, the average round-trip fare is forecast to drop to $286.
Are flight prices expected to drop 2022?
The cost of travel does not seem to be going down. Be safe out there. Wolf. It’s going to be another expensive holiday travel season. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, airline ticket costs increased by 42.9% between September 2021 and September 2022.
Can I use my debit card in Europe?
Debit cards from any major US bank will work at any standard European bank ATM (ideally, use a debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo). As for credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are universal, American Express is less common, and Discover is unknown in Europe.
Will I be charged for using my debit card abroad? You may be charged for using your debit or credit card abroad to buy something or when you withdraw cash in a foreign currency. What you pay depends on the transaction you make and the card you use.
Is it better to use credit or debit in Europe?
key takeaways. European travelers should always have some cash on hand; Obtaining from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest and most advantageous way. Credit cards are generally accepted, especially in cities; but check with your card issuer about foreign transaction fees and currency exchange fees.
What is the best way to pay for things in Europe?
How Should I Pay When I Travel in Europe?
- Credit card. Credit cards can offer convenience and protection, like security alerts and $0 fraud liability, when you’re traveling. …
- Debit Card. A debit card can be a good alternative for making purchases. …
- Digital Wallet. …
- Cash. …
- Traveller’s Cheques. …
- Keep Your Options Open.
What should I know before traveling to Europe 2022?
Europe Travel Tips: 10 Things You MUST KNOW in 2022
- Check the Visa Requirements.
- Travel in Europe in the Off Season.
- Use Budget Airlines.
- Traveling by Rail.
- Make Reservations in advance.
- Bring Comfortable Shoes to walk everywhere.
- Bring a Carry On Bag.
- Stay Longer in One Place.
What can you not bring to Europe? As a general rule, you cannot bring meat, meat products, milk and milk products (eg charcuterie, cheese, yogurt) into the EU. You must declare any animal products you have in your luggage and present them to Customs.
Can I visit Europe in 2022?
From 1 March 2022, EU countries must also allow non-essential travel for people vaccinated with vaccines approved by the EU or the World Health Organization and for people who have recovered from COVID-19.
Should I travel right now?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you avoid travel until you have had all the recommended COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses.
How to avoid COVID on a plane? Wear a mask. Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet away from anyone not in your group. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Consider testing.
Should I travel while COVID?
The bottom line is that traveling increases your chances of getting infected and spreading COVID-19, so staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick.
Does COVID spread on planes?
A study by MIT scholars estimates that from mid-2020 to early 2021, the probability of getting Covid-19 on a plane exceeded 1 in 1,000 on a fully-fledged two-hour flight at the height of the early pandemic, roughly December 2020 and January. 2021.
Is it unsafe to travel in the US right now?
OVERALL RISK: LOW There is a low overall risk, but that risk can change quickly depending on which city or state you visit. Homeland Security monitors terrorist threats on a global scale, the FBI investigates crime on a federal level, and communities are either served by local or county-wide law enforcement.
