A recent study reveals tourists’ dependence on Foreign Office guidance for travel decisions.
- Approximately 74% would decline a free holiday if the FCDO flagged the destination as unsafe.
- Safety and security are top priorities for 78% of travellers when booking holidays.
- There is a stark contrast in reliance on FCDO advice when booking in Asia compared to Europe.
- Calls for reform of FCDO’s outdated travel guidance grow louder.
The recent poll underscores the significant influence Foreign Office travel advice holds over holidaymakers’ decisions in the UK. The survey conducted by Experience Travel Group (ETG) and The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) found that an overwhelming 74% of respondents would refuse a complimentary holiday if the advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) deemed the destination unsafe. This reveals a strong reliance on governmental guidance when it comes to choosing travel destinations, particularly when safety is concerned.
Safety and security remain paramount to the majority of travellers, with 78% of survey participants ranking these factors as their highest priority when booking a holiday. The poll further illustrates this trend by showing that 61% of respondents depend on the FCDO’s travel advice for making informed travel decisions. In particular, destinations in Asia seem to warrant closer attention, with 73% of tourists likely to consult government advice before booking, contrasting sharply with the 46% who do the same for European destinations.
These findings surface amid ongoing demands from ETG and industry stakeholders for more precise and up-to-date information from the FCDO. The call for a comprehensive overhaul in the FCDO’s guidance approach has been accentuated by what ETG describes as overly severe and outdated advisories, particularly regarding Sri Lanka. Such advisories, they argue, misinform consumers and harm the local economies reliant on tourism. This concern is shared by notable figures and organisations, including former cricket luminary Kumar Sangakkara, who have signed an open letter denouncing the current travel guidance.
Sam Clark, CEO of ETG, criticised the FCDO’s guidance as outdated, asserting it fails to reflect the current reality in Sri Lanka, which has evolved significantly from the conditions described in official advice. According to Clark, the continued reliance on outdated information poses a significant risk to not only potential tourists but also the stability of local economies that depend heavily on tourism. The survey indicated that 68% of users would cancel their travel plans to Sri Lanka if they based their decision solely on existing government advice.
Aito’s executive director, Martyn Sumners, highlighted that FCDO advice critically influences which countries are preferred by holidaymakers, underscoring the broader implications for both individual travellers and the tourism industry at large. The importance of accurate, consistent, and fair government travel advice is evident, as it affects not just the decisions of holidaymakers but also the economic vitality of various destinations.
Accurate and updated government travel guidance is crucial to support informed consumer decisions and bolster tourism-dependent economies.
