An increase in the number of UK holidaymakers taking more than one holiday this year could be a sign that the country’s economic fortunes are improving, reveals a report by World Travel Market.

Following the start of the global downturn in 2008, the proportion of UK consumers taking a holiday dropped alarmingly.

However, the World Travel Market 2012 Industry Report has revealed more than half,
52%, of the 1,001 UK holidaymakers polled took more than one holiday this year.

This is the most since the start of the downturn and represents a broader trend of continued growth since 2010 when only 24% of Brits took more than one holiday while in 2011 the figure was 41%

The results show the continued growth across the board when broken down. The survey revealed 34% took two holidays this year compared to 28% in 2011. While 13% took three trips, up on the 10% who did so during 2011. In 2012 5% of respondents took four or more holidays compared to 4% in 2011.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Chairman World Travel Market Fiona Jeffery said: “While it’s certainly too early to claim we’re fully out of the woods economically, these results are encouraging. This is certainly a sign that people are increasingly optimistic about the future and should be welcomed both in the trade and across the country.”

The increase is also being reflected on a global scale. 2012 is the first year that more than one billion trips are expected to be made around the world.

World Travel Market polled 1,001 UK holidaymakers, all of whom had taken at least one holiday (a minimum of seven nights either in the UK or overseas).

World Travel Market takes place at ExCeL, London between Monday 5 – Thursday 8 November. Around 50,000 senior industry professionals will attend generating up to £2 billion in industry deals.