Islamabad is top trending travel destination for UK travellers

Skyscanner releases 2021 travel trends report

Islamabad is trending (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Islamabad is the top trending destination in the UK for summer 2021, according to a new report.

Skyscanner’s Horizon Report combines its own data and analysis with a survey of 5,000 travellers worldwide to reveal booking behaviour, as well as the most-searched for destinations.

Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, came out as the top trending place; followed by the Greek islands of Santorini, Corfu and Crete.

The top 10 was dominated by holiday islands – the exceptions include Dubai, Istanbul and Athens.

Skyscanner also ranked the trending destinations for families, groups and couples, comparing them to the 2019 lists.

Amid a sweep of Greek, Spanish and Italian tourist favourites, one new entry for the ‘couples’ category was closer to home: Jersey made it into eighth place.

Other insights from the report include the fact that more Brits are looking at holidays in September, October and November than they did in 2019, with delayed demand lengthening the summer peak season.

Some 39 per cent of travellers surveyed said they were planning a trip of over 14 days to enjoy an extended holiday this year, making the most of the lifting of travel restrictions.

Meanwhile Skyscanner’s data shows that travellers are spending less, with the average fare purchased coming in at 13 per cent less than it did pre-pandemic – a result of lower fares and deals in a competitive landscape, according to the flight comparison platform.

The vast majority of Brits (more than 80 per cent) surveyed would also be happy to carry some sort of digital health information, including testing results and vaccine status, in the form of a digital health pass if it meant they could travel again.

“It is clear that travellers long to get back out there, with bookings rising as soon as travel corridors open,” said Laura Lindsay, global destination expert at Skyscanner.

“Interestingly, this is causing a shift in the way that our travellers think about destinations this year, with locations that are prioritising getting back to tourism rapidly rising in popularity.

“British travellers still long for the balmy evenings of the Med but right now they are setting their sights further East. Turkey, Greece and Israel are all trending as likely options for that sunshine escape.”

Skyscanner’s top 10 trending destinations for UK travellers

1. Islamabad
2. Santorini (Thira)
3. Corfu
4. Crete Heraklion
5. Dalaman
6. Larnaca
7. Istanbul
8. Dubai
9. Ibiza
10. Athens