Almost one in five young adults are turning to artificial intelligence to design their holiday, according to the UK travel industry body Abta.<\/p>\n
While the traditional package holiday still remains the most common eventual purchase, Abta found that 18% of 25- to 34-year-olds were using AI tools such as ChatGPT to inspire their trips abroad.<\/p>\n
The generational divide remains stark, with fewer than 3% of over-55s citing AI as a source of holiday ideas \u2013 and 25% of Britons overall still reaching for a traditional brochure.<\/p>\n
The travel association said it expected the role of the technology to increase sharply, with almost two in five saying they would be confident to allow an AI assistant to book their travel.<\/p>\n
In research unveiled at its annual travel industry convention in Magaluf, on the Spanish island of Mallorca, Abta also said the proportion of Britons who took a holiday last year had almost returned to its pre-pandemic peak, with increasing confidence in foreign travel.<\/p>\n
About 87% of people surveyed by Abta took a holiday at home or abroad last year, with an ever higher proportion of people citing a break as the most important discretionary spend, above leisure, gadgets and entertainment, even in difficult economic times.<\/p>\n
The trade body\u2019s chief executive, Mark Tanzer, said the increasing use of AI reflected consumer behaviour across all industries, adding: \u201cFor our sector, the challenge is to harness the potential which AI has to support our businesses, while continuing to celebrate and champion the value of the personal touch and expertise which comes with booking with a travel agent or tour operator.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twice as many people are using AI for holiday planning than a year ago, the poll of about 2,000 UK adults in July found, with 8% of respondents saying they rely on it for inspiration, up from 4% in the 2024 survey.<\/p>\n
It also found that 25- to 34-year-olds were most likely to describe a holiday as \u201cimportant for their mental health\u201d, at 90% compared with the 80% average, and twice as likely \u2013 20% to 10% \u2013 to say they choose a company, hotel or destination based on its environmental commitments.<\/p>\n
Some expressed scepticism at that claim. Steve Heapy, the chief executive of the airline and tour operator Jet2, said: \u201cEveryone wants to be greener \u2013 but if it\u2019s costing more money, they tend to think twice about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, he added that younger holidaymakers \u201cseem to be a lot more responsible and healthier living than when I was young \u2013 we\u2019ve got to understand that, because it is the future\u201d.<\/p>\n
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