Exchange rates putting people off travel to the UK and USA

Sixty per cent of people say the weak euro exchange rate would put them off travelling to the UK or USA this year according to a new holiday survey from MyHome.ie.

The weakness of the Euro may well be a factor in the rise – 25%, up 2% – in the number of Irish people planning a staycation this year.

According to the findings 45% of people – down 1.5% – are planning to holiday abroad, 19% are planning breaks both home and abroad, while the number of people not going on holiday remained the same at 10%.

Meanwhile the Greek Tourist Board will be concerned to learn that over one in five or 22.5% of respondents said they wouldn’t visit the country in its current state. While 59% said they wouldn’t be put off going there by its current economic woes, a further nineteen per cent said they were undecided.

Not surprisingly given the heavy rain and low temperatures we have been experiencing here of late, fine weather remains the main reason Irish people choose to go abroad (41%) followed by a change of scene (33%).

The survey involved over 5,000 people.

Angela Keegan, Managing Director of MyHome.ie, said the findings reflected an improvement in consumer sentiment and would provide a timely boost to the domestic tourism market.

“While it’s clear some people are factoring the current exchange rate into their holiday planning it is heartening to see that fewer people are changing their holiday plans due to worsening financial circumstances. Two years ago 41% of respondents said they were holidaying differently due to deteriorating finances; last year the figure was 33% and this year its 27%.

“Another trend worth noting is the increasing number of people who are choosing self-catering accommodation, up 2% to 37%. While the main reasons remain cost and home comforts it’s clear people are putting more thought into their holiday destinations as 10% – double last year’s 5% -say the main reason they are opting for self catering is down to location,” Ms Keegan said.

Fifty five per cent, a rise of 4% said they used the internet to research and choose their holiday destination. MyHome.ie has over 4,460 Irish holiday homes on its website and over 33,000 across Europe. You can check the out at www.myhome.ie/holiday-homes

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