The family holiday market is certainly a great source of revenue for many travel agents, but research indicates that a growing number of parents are interested in leaving the kids at home.
Following in the footsteps of the parents from nineties classic Home Alone, it seems some not all parents are excited about the prospect of a family holiday (Young Kevin McAllister, Macauley Culkin?s Home Alone character, would not approve...).
Nearly half of parents (48%) admit to wanting a kid-free holiday, according to a report by customer experience company Qualtrics.
The report, which surveyed 1,000 adults across Great Britain, asked participants about their last trip abroad to understand what matters most to prospective holidaymakers in the UK. While the 48% figure seems like a high number, this statistic may be explained by the intentions behind people?s bookings.
According to the report, while 21% of people headed abroad to visit a dream destination, and 28% jumped on a flight because they found a cheap deal, two-fifths of holidaymakers (41%) opted to take a trip in an attempt to cheer themselves up.
On the other hand, while almost half of parents are eager to travel without their kids, 87% of parents with children over the age of 18 want to go on holiday with their grown-up offspring.
?There?s no denying family holidays can be stressful, but travel companies can do a lot to alleviate that stress and provide a great experience for both parents and their kids,? said Katy Collins, travel enterprise account executive as Qualtrics.
?Our research shows that even minor things, like giving out free coffees at an airport boarding gate, can make a major difference to the passenger experience. With more data available than ever before, holiday companies are in a great position to work out what those minor tweaks are and to make sure that family holidays aren?t a headache for parents.?
This report comes after last year?s research from ABTA estimated 60% of Brits left the UK and travelled abroad for a holiday.
