As of May 21, 2020, about one third of respondents in the United Kingdom planned to spend their annual leave on holidays in the UK if travel abroad was still difficult due to lockdown restrictions. Over a quarter of respondents expected to spend more time at home.

Over half of holidaymakers in the United Kingdom planned to re-book all their overseas holidays, both short-break and longer, once the travel restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus would be lifted in 2020. For short-break holidays, about ** percent planned to re-book them in part, compared to ** percent for longer holidays.

Social media has been vital for consumers, suppliers, workforce and partners to remain engaged amidst this exogenous event of COVID-19.
This thematic research report takes an in-depth look at the theme of Social Media and its impact on travel and tourism during COVID-19 affecting super-national organizations, DMO’s, airlines, lodging providers, cruise operators and travel intermediaries. This report analyzes the major impacts that may become longstanding and then presents an array of case studies demonstrating the creative and innovative ways companies and organizations have acted during this time.
“Social media has most openly been utilized as a tool for travel businesses and DMO’s to maintain contact with consumers worldwide – to generate wanderlust and look towards recovery when travel is once again possible. Even though the battle with COVID-19 is now beginning to lessen and restrictions are easing, it is clear there will be long-standing impacts on consumer behavior and social media is one of the major themes that will drive future changes”. – Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Associate Analyst, GlobalData. Read More

There were approximately ******* visits from Greece to the United Kingdom in 2023, an increase over the previous three years, *** of which were heavily affected by international travel restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In 2023, there were ******* trips from Norway to the United Kingdom, which marked an increase from the previous year. While visitation rates dropped significantly in 2020 and 2021 due to travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they had already been declining since 2014, following a peak of ******* trips.

Context

OXFORD COVID-19 GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TRACKER

Data from https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/research-projects/oxford-covid-19-government-response-tracker

Content

Governments are taking a wide range of measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) aims to record these unfolding responses in a rigorous, consistent way across countries and across time.

OxCGRT collects publicly available information on 11 indicators of government response, such as school closings, travel bans, or other measures. For a full description of the data and how they are collected, see this working paper.

For more information see https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/publications/variation-government-responses-covid-19 and https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/publications/variation-government-responses-covid-19.

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Acknowledgements

Data from https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/research-projects/oxford-covid-19-government-response-tracker

Banner Photo by Trust "Tru" Katsande on Unsplash

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COVID-19 and COVID-related decisions are having significant impacts on children and adults vulnerable to, and already experiencing, the crime of forced marriage. This mixed-methods project aimed to chart and understand this impact, inform evaluation of the UK's response to COVID-19, and shape on-going policy regarding the UK's pandemic response. This collection includes a timeline of key COVID-19 related events and government restrictions. This includes key data such as when COVID-19 (and variations) was discovered, and when significant case numbers were reached globally and in the UK. It also includes detail of when key forced marriage-related COVID-19 restrictions were brought in, and lifted, in 2020, and 2021, across the UK and also in each of the devolved jurisdictions. Plus processed data from this timeline, including visualisations.COVID-19 and COVID-related decisions are having significant impacts on children and adults vulnerable to, and already experiencing, the crime of forced marriage. Our mixed-methods project will chart and understand this impact, inform evaluation of the UK's response to COVID-19, and shape on-going policy regarding the UK's pandemic response. We consider the uneven economic and social impact of the pandemic, and the ethical dimensions of unequal impacts of COVID-related decision-making, on this vulnerable group, and seek to impact how civil society and the voluntary sector support vulnerable people. The government's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) and the charity Karma Nirvana (KN) (which provides a national forced marriage helpline) have warned about the significant impact of the pandemic on forced marriage in the UK. We designed this project with both organisations, and will work with them to analyse quantitative and qualitative data about the impact of COVID-19 on those at risk of, or experiencing, forced marriage; and to record and analyse the challenges faced in the pandemic, evaluate the efficacy of mitigation strategies, and formulate new policies and practises for protection and response. Within the first 6 months, we will have co-created an accurate account of the economic and social impact of COVID-19 and COVID-related decision-making on victims of forced marriage, and the ethical implications of unequal impacts. We will then continue to chart the changing risk environment, while co-developing policy reports and recommendations for the UK government (including FMU), NGO practice responses (including KN), and other stakeholders, to improve the on-going response to COVID-19 and build community resilience. We collected information from public websites, including UK government website, official airline carrier websites (and their Twitter feeds), and news media. We were particularly interested in a pre-set set of criteria, including: regulations relating to national and local “lockdowns” (or “stay at home” orders), restrictions on gatherings, school closures, restrictions relating to weddings, closures or access to places of religion, travel and shielding. In addition, we looked for any key dates or statistics for the pandemic at a global scale, and international travel restrictions relating to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (because these are countries which regularly feature as "focus countries" in Forced Marriage Unit Data. We took a chronological approach, starting with UK-wide and global events, then focusing on England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and other countries. We made visulisations of data on regional and local lockdowns in 2020 using tableau, and also used the data collected to count how many days regions in England were under different Covid-19 restrictions relevant to vulnerability to forced marriage.

In 2023, there were approximately ******* visits from Turkey to the United Kingdom, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year. The years 2020 and 2021 were severely impacted by travel restrictions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In the three years leading up to the pandemic, annual visitation from Turkey to the UK consistently exceeded ******* trips.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Edinburgh Napier University’s Transport Research Institute has been undertaking a study, funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), into its impact on transport and travel in Scotland. As part of this research, a travel behaviour questionnaire was developed focusing on daily travel as well as people’s long-term travel habits, attitudes and preferences during the different phases of the pandemic outbreak. The associated questionnaires were completed by participants between 3rd February 2021 and 17th February 2021 using the online platform, Qualtrics. The survey was restricted to Scottish residents and involved enforcing quota constraints for age, gender and household income. A total of 994 responses were collected. Perceptions of risk, trust in information sources and compliance with COVID-19 regulations were determined together with changes in levels of ‘life satisfaction’ and modal choice following the onset of COVID-19. In addition, survey responses were used to identify anticipated travel mode use in the future. Consideration was also given to the effects of COVID-19 on transport related lifestyle issues such as ‘working from home’, online shopping and the expectations of moving residences in the future. The research provided an insight into both the relationships between the levels of non-compliance with COVID-19 regulations and demographic variables and the respondent attributes which might affect future public transport usage. In general, the study confirmed significant reductions in traffic activity, amongst respondents during the COVID 19 pandemic associated with walking, driving a car and either using a bus or train. The respondents also indicated that they anticipated they would continue to make less use of buses and trains at the end of the pandemic.

Over the five years through 2024-25, travel insurance revenue is expected to fall at a compound annual rate of 2% to £554.7 million. The industry has been marked by fierce volatility in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and turbulent economic conditions in the years following clobbering international travel. The COVID-19 outbreak clobbered international travel in 2020-21, brining demand for travel insurance down with it. Although insurers were quick to adapt, providing COVID-specific coverage for cancellations and unexpected medical expenses, this wasn’t enough to offset the drastic drop-off in demand. This resulted in many travel insurers suspending services during the pandemic, contributing to a mighty fall in revenue in the two years through 2021-22. As travel restrictions fully eased in 2022-23, travel rebounded and incited a rally in claims costs. However, rising premiums were able to absorb these costs, supporting profitability and driving revenue growth during the year. Demand for travel insurance has slowed in the years since as international travel closes in on pre-pandemic heights, beginning to plateau. At the same time, the cost-of-living crisis has dented consumer confidence and resulted in many opting out of holidays, weighing on revenue growth. Still, revenue is slated to spike by 12.9% in 2024-25. Additionally, COVID-19 was arguably a blessing in disguise, highlighting the importance of travel insurance and incentivising insurers to offer more personalised coverage, something allowed for by technological developments like AI. Over the five years through 2029-30, travel insurance revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 4.9% to £705.7 million. Demand will to remain robust in the coming years as the effects of COVID-19 on travel remain at the forefront of holidaymakers’ minds, encouraging them to seek protection from unexpected disruption like political instability and natural disasters. The improving economic environment is also set to lift demand for travel insurance, making people more willing to go on holiday. Yet, despite inflation coming down, prices are still rising, placing continued pressure on people’s finances and weighing on revenue growth in the short term. Technological developments will continue to shake up the industry, providing insurers with niche markets to capitalise on and price risk effectively, something that wouldn’t have been possible before advancements in data analytics and AI.

Recent months have been unprecedented in the tourism sector. Travel restrictions, flight suspensions, falling consumer confidence and a slew of negative press are just some of the issues airlines are having to contend with. As one of the airline industry's leading players, Lufthansa has been severely impacted. Read More

Industry revenue is anticipated to dip at a compound annual rate of 2% over the five years through 2024-25 to £29.4 billion. The fall is largely due to COVID-19 wreaking travel havoc, the pound weakening against foreign currencies and mounting online competition. More and more bookings are being made online, cutting out high-street agencies and putting pressure on their finances. Rising external competition did lead to the exit of more bricks-and-mortar travel agencies, including the collapse of the industry's second-largest player, Thomas Cook, in September 2019. COVID-19 decimated the industry, with travel bans slashing revenue in 2020-21. The easing of lockdown and travel restrictions in 2021-22 started the industry's recovery, with people keen to get out of the house and holiday again. Revenge travel exploded, boosting revenue by 201.5% to £26.4 billion in 2022-23. Revenue is continuing to bounce back further in 2024-25 by a forecast 2.4%. Despite impressive growth, revenue could be higher – staff shortages on airlines cause mass flight cancellations, which limits travel agencies' offerings, while the cost-of-living crisis has made customers more wary of value for money and boosted package sales. Over the five years through 2029-30, industry revenue is slated to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.1% to reach £32.5 billion. In the short term, bookings for cheaper package holidays will support travel agents. Rising disposable incomes will result in UK tourists taking more expensive holidays. To help propel sales, travel agencies will supplement their services by fully integrating their businesses with online platforms and introducing more niche services, like youth student travel and trips catered to those over 60.

Revenue in the Travel Agencies industry is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 12.3% over the five years through 2025 to €121.5 billion. The focus of the travel industry in the last five years has been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel demand plunged during 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 outbreak grounded flights and confined people to their homes. While domestic travel could continue in some countries, most travel agencies had no trips to sell. Since restrictions were lifted across Europe and globally (which happened at each country’s own pace), the travel sector has seen a resurgence in demand by trends characterised as revenge travel and responsible travel. People made up for lost time by taking more trips after COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted. In 2024 and 2025, consumers are still keen for trips but want value-for-money adventures instead as they’re cautious of their spending amid disposable income squeezes. International travel to Europe has also resurged, especially from the US, thanks to the more favourable dollar-to-Europe rate – a welcome trend for agencies. There’s concerns that President Trump’s administration and US tariffs could see a drop in US visitors, but in early 2025 numbers have been strong. Pent-up demand combined with savings built up during COVID-19 has kept bookings high, defying high inflation across Europe that would usually signal lower trip spending. Travel remains a high priority for many households, driving up bookings. As a result, revenue is expected to mount by 4.4% in 2025. That being said, the Russia-Ukraine war has plagued tourism in Eastern Europe, with countries like Finland and the Baltic states continuing to record much lower tourist numbers than pre-pandemic because of fewer Russian tourists and lower travel confidence to the region. Revenue is anticipated to climb at a compound annual rate of 8.9% in the five years through 2030 to €186.3 billion. Online travel agencies will continue to cement their position in the industry, with most traditional agencies adapting by now or already closing. Climate change will disrupt travel agencies and the destination packages they offer. The last few years have already seen wildfires across Greece that spelt disaster for many trips and travel agencies will need to plan for the shift from southern European beaches to northern European destinations as temperatures rise. Travel agencies across Europe will also keep trying to carve out more of a niche by specialising in trips for certain age demographics.

Hotels and short-term accommodation providers in Europe enjoy strong demand due to the continent’s well-developed tourism sector and significant number of holiday destinations that cater to various consumer needs. European residents often holiday domestically or go on trips to other European countries due to how quick and easy it is to travel to them. Rising domestic and international tourism fuelled accommodation demand prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, but travel restrictions then decimated revenue. Revenue is slated to contract at a compound annual rate of 9.5% over the five years through 2024 to €187.9 billion, including an expected 3.2% drop in 2024. Despite the numerous popular holiday spots spread across Europe, including Spain, Italy and France, hotels and other holiday accommodation providers weren’t prepared for the catastrophic drop in tourism caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Strict restrictions on international travel decimated tourist numbers, with holiday accommodation sites forced to close for long periods in 2020. The easing of travel restrictions in 2021 and 2022 drove revenue back up, supported mostly by heightened domestic tourism due to heightened consumer confidence and a trend towards staycations. Since 2022, though, severe inflation and heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty have squeezed consumers’ budgets and made them less confident of their financial prospects confidence, limiting spending on holidays. European hotels and short-term accommodation providers faces intense competition, putting pressure on prices and RevPAR. The growing popularity of online booking platforms like Airbnb has played a big part in increasing competitive pressures. To attract potential guests, accommodation providers are adopting dynamic pricing strategies and investing in enhancing the customer experience through innovation and differentiation. Revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 2.9% over the five years through 2029 to €217 billion. A mounting number of international guests and strong demand for domestic holidays will drive growth. As consumer confidence improves and inflation edges back down to more normal levels, disposable income will climb, stimulating holiday spending. Hotels and short-term accommodation providers will continue to face competitive pressures as the popularity of short-term rental platforms grows, hindering revenue and profit.

Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is projected to fall at a compound annual rate of 3.1%. Faltering conditions in the air travel market weigh on finances as online travel agencies (OTAs) scrabble to issue refunds and make alternative travel arrangements for consumers when airlines go bust or strikes happen. Unsurprisingly, OTAs didn't escape the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and global travel restrictions that brought plummeting sales, litigation threats and restructuring activity. Bookings exploded following the scrapping of travel restrictions in March 2022. Still, OTAs' troubles weren't over immediately when borders reopened – the spike in passenger numbers has taken time to translate into the same rise in revenue, with customers booking holidays using credit notes and vouchers amid COVID-19 backlogs. Still, bookings so far in 2024-25 are outpacing those seen in 2023-24, suggesting another strong year of revenue growth. Airlines, hotels and tourist attractions are under tremendous pressure to recoup losses from the COVID-19 outbreak. Charging extra for add-ons or upping prices across the board has been the order of the day, but passing on price rises and squeezing the customer isn't a good idea when finances are already tight. Demand for travel has proved resilient despite the cost-of-living squeeze, with many making a holiday their top discretionary purchase. Still, travellers are looking for great value, which has seen an uptick in package holidays. In 2024-25, revenue is anticipated to climb by 5.1% to reach £1.9 billion, and the average industry profit margin is set to sit at 8.4%. Over the five years through 2029-30, revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 1.2% to reach £2.1 billion. Competition from tourism providers will intensify as suppliers cut prices and boost loyalty programme rewards to attract bookings. While OTAs may not be able to compete against airlines and hotels on price and loyalty programs, they can emphasise personalisation. Social media is the new marketing norm and OTAs needs to prioritise digital marketing. As momentum gains on sustainable travel intent, so does the opportunity for OTAs to further efforts in building and communicating more sustainable travel experiences.

In 2024, approximately 419,310 study visas were issued in the UK, compared with 604,250 in 2023. There was a noticeable decline in the number of study visas granted between 2019 and 2020, due to travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.