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This year has been a particularly difficult season to travel for many people, with the war in the Middle East shutting off many cherished destinations, and wildfires and extreme heat across Europe disrupting plans. Of course, on any human scale of values, the devastation and loss of life that has taken place is vastly more troubling than some wrecked holidays.
There are also longer-term reasons why people report that holidays are either difficult to go on or no longer so enjoyable. Smartphones make it impossible to disconnect. The mechanics of travel have become tougher, particularly in Europe. There have been severe anti-tourist protests in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. Financial pressures have climbed, and the tourist industry is adept at extracting its profits in difficult times.
According to HSBC, holidays have become much more expensive since 2019, rising by 30 per cent, far faster than inflation. To manage costs we are adjusting how we travel this summer. The most common changes, according to research from YouGov, include choosing domestic holidays instead of international travel (19 per cent), reducing spending during the trip itself (18 per cent), selecting cheaper destinations (17 per cent) and taking shorter trips (16 per cent).
