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Spain is the most popular holiday destination for older Britons, with billions of dollars spent on trips to the country last year, research has found.
A study by Rest Less, an organization that provides support and advice to older people, revealed that Britons aged 55 and over will spend £3.2bn on holidays to Spain in 2022.
Despite this age group spending more than £17bn on overseas holidays around the world last year, the group warned that spending had not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Stuart Lewis, chief executive of Rest Less, said: “Our latest analysis shows that international travel for over-55s in the UK has largely recovered from the pandemic, with 2023 on track to return to pre-pandemic levels. I predict that will happen.”
“Travel is a hugely important part of the lives of people over 55. In our own research, more than three-quarters of respondents who took less time off said that traveling was very important to them. answered that it was important.”
A middle-aged Brit enjoying the warm weather in Malaga, Spain
(Reuters)
France, the Canary Islands, Greece and Portugal are also popular overseas destinations for older Britons, the research found.
The study estimates that the number of overseas trips for people aged 55 and over will increase by 337% in 2022 compared to 2021.
The group also predicted that 2023 will be the year in which spending exceeds 2019 levels, and that 2024 will set a new record for spending on international travel and vacations.
Lewis added: “The pandemic has taught us just how fragile life is, and has caused many middle-aged people to reevaluate what they want from their lives and careers. We are now seeing a resurgence of wanderlust to explore and experience new places and cultures.
“For people who are in good health and have a lot of must-see places to visit, there is a lot to make up for the lost years of the coronavirus pandemic when they weren’t able to travel, and a strong desire to live life to the fullest. .”