Britons avoid USA

The number of British tourists holidaying in the USA fell by more than one-third this summer, according to figures released by the travel industry this week. Bookings to destinations worldwide dropped by 9%.

The Association of British Travel Agents said, following 11 September, most major tour operators cut capacity for this year by 10%, which had turned out to be an accurate prediction.

The terrorist attacks affected the USA more than other destinations. Only India saw a bigger slump, in excess of 40%, caused by the now-receded threat of war with Pakistan.

New York dropped from seventh to 14th place in the table of most popular city destinations. Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam stayed at the top.

British holiday-makers were generally inclined to stay closer to home and book later. Spain remained the most popular package holiday destination, with more than four million bookings. But this was down by 7% on the previous summer.

Greece came second, and Corfu, with bookings slightly up in 2002, overtook Rhodes as the number-one destination.

After a lengthy drought caused by the Luxor tourist massacre in 1997, travel to Egypt dramatically improved, with a 20% rise.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 31 October - 6 November 2002