Two weeks after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union, throwing its currency into a tailspin, statistics show that it hasn’t put a damper on Brits’ vacation plans, according to European online travel agency eDreams ODIGEO.
In data released to travel industry site EyeforTravel, the agency, which analysed data from140 websites and 17 million customers, finds that although total U.K. travel fell 2% in the four days following the vote, overall bookings to the continent are up 9% compared with the year-earlier period.
However, data suggests currency swings are affecting where Brits choose to travel. Trips to destinations where the pound remains relatively strong are up—to Norway by 40% and Hungary 16%. Thailand and Mexico up by 19% and 11%, respectively, and in Scotland, which wants to remain in the EU, year-on-year bookings from Glasgow and Edinburgh were also up by 32% and 12% respectively.
British firm AB Property Marketing says the U.K. hospitality sector is looking forward to a “bumper summer,” as the decline in the pound following the Brexit vote will create a two-fold increase in tourism for U.K. destinations. Since the decision, overseas travel sites have reported a significant jump in inquiries for U.K. holidays. Kayak noted a 54% increase in US searches for fares to Britain, Travelzoo reported a 35% rise and young people’s travel booking site StudentUniverse reported that flights had doubled from a year ago.
Meanwhile, Ctrip.com International reported that Chinese searches for U.K. holidays had “skyrocketed” since the vote, while British Airways owners IAG SA has stated that it is expecting the weaker pound to boost tourist flows to the UK.