If you fill your suitcase with tins of beans before jetting off on holiday, and can’t help hunting for an English-style pub when you get there – then you’re one of a dying breed.
For the classic ‘Brit abroad’ is becoming a thing of the past, a survey has revealed.
Just over seven in ten holidaymakers (71 per cent) now see themselves as a ‘traveller’ rather than a ‘tourist’, as those heading for foreign climes are in the mood for a more authentic experience.
And the poll reveals 88 per cent agree there are certain habits once attributed to Britons on their travels which are now out of date.
Getting sunburnt on day one (50 per cent), wearing matching T-shirts (40 per cent), sitting by the hotel pool all week (37 per cent), packing teabags (32 per cent) and using a bucket and spade (29 per cent) are all considered old hat.
A poll has revealed 88 per cent agree there are certain habits once attributed to Britons on their travels which are now out of date
The survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Lloyds Bank, revealed more than half of tourists (57 per cent) would be unhappy being perceived as a typical ‘Brit abroad’. Signs that you’re a ‘traveller’ rather than a ‘tourist’ include avoiding tourist traps (36 per cent), eating only at local restaurants (31 per cent) and having well-worn walking boots (23 per cent).
Youngsters seem to be driving the shift, with 83 per cent agreeing that under-30s are more passionate about getting off the beaten track than older generations. And overall, 40 per cent of modern travellers prefer experiences which take them out of their comfort zone, with two-thirds (64 per cent) even dreaming of turning up at the airport with no idea of where they’re going.
But despite a thirst for adventure, relaxation was still a top holiday priority (73 per cent), followed by good food (55 per cent) and immersion in a new culture (49 per cent).
The poll also suggests Britons are widening their horizons, with 60 per cent wanting to visit a new country. Top destinations included Japan (26 per cent), Australia (26 per cent), New Zealand (25 per cent) and Italy (21 per cent). In turn, 69 per cent have been put off iconic destinations due to overcrowding, including the Eiffel Tower (49 per cent).
Olamide Majekodunmi, Lloyds money expert, said: ‘It’s clear that the younger generation are looking for a certain sort of experience when they set out on their travels.’
