What you need to know
The total number of holidays taken by over-55s in the UK and abroad in 2018 reached a record level of 34 million. Expenditure reached £16.2 billion (not including spending on overseas transport). Over-55s accounted for 32% of all holidays taken and 35% of all holiday expenditure in 2018.
Travel features high in the over-55 bucket-list of future life priorities. Over-55s own a growing share of the nation’s wealth. Demographic change guarantees an expanding pool of potential customers. Over-55s are seeking to stay younger and fitter for longer and to make the most of their years ahead. Rising longevity will also drive demand for supported forms of travel amongst the elderly, including those with disabilities and dementia.
Covered in this Report
Holidays refer to overnight trips of at least one night made for leisure purposes. Trips for the purpose of visiting friends and family, business or other purposes are excluded. Data on the size of the domestic market is for Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom (ie Northern Ireland is not included), sourced from GBTS. Data for the overseas market is for the United Kingdom, sourced from IPS.
