Brexit – and in particular the threat of a no deal Brexit – has sent the value of the pound plummeting and sparked worries about passport validity. The UK is set to leave the EU on October 31, and, as yet, there is no deal in place for the departure. Yet despite the political uncertainty and economic upheaval Britons are staying loyal to European holidays., it has been claimed. New research from GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, claims UK visitor numbers to Europe are set to reach 64.4 million in 2023.
The company maintains travellers will seek out sunshine, city breaks, and cheap food and drink in Europe, despite not getting as much value for their sterling against the euro as prior to the 2016 Brexit referendum.
The results of the survey show UK departures to Europe are set to grow at a annual growth rate of 2.88 per cent from 55.9 million in 2018 to 64.4 million in 2023.
Laura Beaton, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, said: “Of course Brexit has impacted the UK’s outbound tourism industry but the reality is not likely to be as bad as we might have been led to believe, at least in terms of visitor numbers.
“The depreciation of the pound has had a big impact on expenditure, however, and travellers have had to spend more to match the same experiences they had a few years ago.
“As a result, cheaper locations are highly sought after by UK travellers.”
Meanwhile, Express.co.uk has previously reported how travellers are turning to Turkey as an alternative to Eurozone destinations.
Expert from ICE currency have also spoken out about the best long-haul holiday destinations to max out your pound.
Louis Bridger, Head of ICE currency exchange UK, told how South Africa and Egypt were the best value, even if it meant travelling a little further compared to EU destinations.
Louis said: “There are still plenty of destinations where Brits can enjoy good value – but it might mean looking outside the Eurozone.
“Other great value destinations include South Africa, where £1 will get you 19.17 South African Rand, and Egypt, where £1 will get you 21.33 Egyptian Pounds.
“To put this in context, you can get a decent meal at a restaurant in Cairo for £3.41, and for around £6 in Cape Town.
I went to South Africa in January and couldn’t believe the cost of food and drink – especially wine – over there.”
Meanwhile, Express.co.uk previously told how Britons have cut back their holidays abroad in light of current Brexit chaos.
Those living in the UK have decreased their vacations overseas in light of turmoil surrounding the UK’s exit from the EU, which is scheduled for October 31.
Official figures from the Office of National Statistics show a one per cent fall in the number of UK residents heading abroad.
