Exclusive Insight: British Travellers Preferences and Spending in Europe

Two key data sets that highlight travel frequencies and associated money spending patterns underpin this compelling narrative.

Here are the standout findings regarding travel frequencies:

• With more than 14 million visits, Spain tops the list as the most popular destination for British travellers. 26.74% of visits from British travellers to Europe were to Spain.

• France emerges as the second favourite, attracting over 7 million British visitors.

• Italy holds the third spot, drawing close to 4 million UK tourists.

• Our data indicates significant seasonal trends, with Q3 showing the highest travel numbers across the board.

• Other top spots include Greece, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland, each showcasing unique draws for British tourists.

• The total number of visits to European countries in 3 quarters of 2023 is 52,364,000.

Top 10 countries:

The money spending data for Q1, Q2 and Q3 2023 further enhances the story:

• British tourists’ spending in Spain soared to 11 billion with an increase of 11.7% compared to 2022.

• British visitors spent a substantial 5 billion in France and that’s an increase of 22.97% compared to the same period in 2022.

• British spending in Italy reached 3 billion with a huge increase of 33.33% compared to the same period in 2022.

• A dramatic increase in spending in Greece, with a peak of 3.3 billion. Compared with the same period in 2022 this is an increase of 15%!

• In 2023 British travellers spent over 2.2 billion in Portugal, with an increase in the same period of 2022 for 8%.

• In the same period, spending in Russia decreased by 50%.

Spending (in billions) in the most popular countries:

This data doesn’t only quantify the travel trends but also illustrates the recovery course of the travel industry, the post-Brexit shifts in tourism, and consumer confidence in cross-border travel.