At the end of last year, Abta predicted that the US would be one of the “hottest” destinations in 2016. And as the peaks market took off, it looked like the travel body was right.
The country’s perception as a “safer” destination, coupled with increased – and cheaper – airlift due to the introduction of Norwegian flights in 2014, means the US is consistently proving to be one of the top destinations for 2016.
Funway Holidays has reported record sales. Its current top performing destinations include Las Vegas, up 54% compared with 2015, followed closely by California, up 51%, and New York, up 42%.
“Holidaymakers are avoiding traditional winter sun hotspots for ‘safer’ destinations,” admits Nick Talbot, head of marketing. “The US is seen as a ‘safer’ destination.”
Increased interest in the US is particularly noteworthy because just four years ago the country had witnessed four consecutive years of decline in UK numbers, between 2009 and 2012. Overall figures for 2015 are not yet out but 2014 alone saw a 4% rise in UK visitor numbers, with a total of 3.97 million Brits visiting the US following a 2% rise in 2013.
If figures from New York are anything to go by, 2015 is likely to repeat this success. Last year the Big Apple welcomed a record number of visitors – 58.3 million in total, an increase of 1.8 million on 2014. Of that, 1.19 million were from the UK.
