British overseas visits start rising again

After four years of declining numbers, the tally of Britons going overseas rose in 2011.

Data produced by the Office for National Statistics showed that the tally rose by 0.8 per cent, with three of the four quarters of last year seeing a year-on-year increase.

Ferries from Dover to Calais may have been more crowded as the study found the kind of trips being taken were increasingly to destinations closer to the UK, a situation that would put neighbouring nations like France, Spain and the Low Countries in focus as preferred destinations.

The second quarter of 2011 saw the greatest number of overseas visits and this coincided with the period of Easter shortly followed by the extra bank holiday for the royal wedding, meaning many people could take an extended holiday while booking off just a handful of working days.

Easter is a period when short overseas trips are traditionally popular and prior to the recent long weekend, chief executive of the Association of British Travel Agents Mark Tanzer estimated 1.5 million Britons would take their chance to leave the country for a break.

Posted by Mark Robinson
 

Dover - Calais

1 x Foot Passenger(s) Return

Travelling on:

02/06/2013 - 02/06/2013

£13

Get Price for 123456789 passenger(s)Go

Dover - Dunkerque

Car + 2 Return

Travelling on:

05/06/2013 - 05/06/2013

£19

Get Price for 123456789 passenger(s)Go

Dover - Calais

Car + 4 Return

Travelling on:

03/06/2013 - 03/06/2013

£19

Get Price for 123456789 passenger(s)Go

* Prices are "from prices" and are indicative only

More ferry cheap prices