Over a third would prefer activity-filled holiday than sitting back and relaxing
Over a third of Brits would prefer to keep busy with activities while on holiday – rather than sit back and do nothing, a study has found.
A poll of 2,000 holidaymakers found that 36% prefer an activity holiday, with 35% saying that keeping active while on vacation helps them to feel more relaxed than simply sunbathing.
Some of the most popular pastimes people like to get stuck into while travelling include cycling, yoga, or paddleboarding – with water sports such as waterskiing, wake-surfing, and wakeboarding, also commonly enjoyed.
As such, some of the top predicted travel trends for 2024 include “sportcations”, where people go on a trip to learn a new sport, and “relactive” getaways – keeping active to help you relax on holiday.
Other trends include the “solo-moon”, with 52% of travellers considering going away by themselves to do whatever they want (57%), and to meet new people (28%).
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And “boomerang tourism” will see a rise in multi-generational holidays, as adult children join their parents on trips away.
These trends emerged following the survey conducted by overseas active holiday company, Neilson Beach Clubs, combined with analysis of its customer holiday data from summer 2023 booking data.
Four in 10 are keen to learn a new sport while on holiday - with Pickleball rising in popularity (Neilson Beach Clubs/SWNS)This included 91% of holidaymakers participating in a combination of different activities while on holiday in 2023 – an increase of 4%.
The company saw paddleboarding and fitness classes named as the activities guests are currently enjoying most – as well as more extreme sports, such as mountain biking.
Furthermore, it has seen seven in 10 customers returning for another holiday the following year – creating the trend “repeat retreats”, where holidaymakers book their next trip to the same place.
David Taylor, CEO at Neilson Beach Clubs, said: “We found these trends by looking closely at our customer data, so we can understand what is driving booking habits.
“People are increasingly using their time away from work to not only recharge their batteries mentally, but stay in shape physically. We call this switching off by switching on.
“For those who exercise regularly at home, the thought of going two weeks without maintaining their fitness can actually be quite stressful, which would help explain this.”
Another top trend picked out is “picklecore”, which reflects the rise in interest for the sport Pickleball – a mix of tennis, table tennis, and badminton, played with short bats over a net, and using a perforated plastic ball.
Over a third would be interested in playing this on their travels, while 42% would generally like to learn a new sport on holiday, as 72% feel it would be fun. Half believe it’s important to learn new skills, and 9% would do so because a celebrity had tried it.
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As a result, Neilson Beach Clubs will be quadrupling their courts across their overseas Beach Club resorts for 2024.
And one in three will book their next holiday as soon as they return from a trip - with four in 10 of these looking to banish the post-holiday blues (Neilson Beach Clubs/SWNS)It also emerged that just over half (54%) would go abroad with their parents in 2024 – but only if mums and dads were happy to pick up the whole bill.
Others would go away with their folks to make memories for life (57%), or simply to spend quality time with them (73%), according to the OnePoll figures.
Around two-thirds (65%), however, said it’s important to them that any holiday destination has activities that match the passions of every generation, if they go on a family trip.
For instance, the “fami-e-rides” trend is on the rise, seeing multi-generational holidaymakers taking trips on e-bikes increasingly more often.
It also emerged that one in three (34%) would be likely to book a holiday as soon as they get back from their last one – with 38% of those claiming it's because they want to banish the holiday blues.
David Taylor, from Neilson Beach Clubs, added: “We all know that a holiday provides that opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
“For most people, a holiday is not seen as a luxury – it's a necessity for our well-being, a chance to recharge and spend time doing what we love.
“If an active holiday is your way of relaxing, taking the time to research destinations with activities everyone can enjoy is really vital – and so, for us, it’s important to stay on top of travel trends like the ones we’ve identified, to continue offering our customers great new experiences every year.”
Fred Sirieix, who has taken on the role of “Good Energy Officer” at Neilson Beach Clubs after his return from the I'm A Celebrity... jungle, added: “As GEO, going on active holidays with my family is something I get extremely excited about.
“Health and fitness has always been a passion of mine, and I fully embraced the Good Energy lifestyle over the past summer when I went to Greece – and can’t wait to do it all again next year.”
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