"Sunshine Saturday" Sparks Record Booking Surge in the UK

The United Kingdom’s travel industry is celebrating a massive boost following "Sunshine Saturday," with booking volumes for summer 2026 up 5% compared to last year.

Industry body ABTA reports that millions of "winter-wearied" Britons spent the first weekend of January securing package holidays, with a notable trend toward long-haul destinations. Travelers are showing increased confidence by booking further in advance, with some even securing trips into 2027.

While traditional hotspots like Tenerife remain popular, there is a significant rise in interest for Gozo and Sri Lanka, which have seen triple-digit increases in search volume.

Interestingly, the average flight time for searched destinations has increased by 20 minutes, indicating that UK travelers are willing to fly further to find value and new experiences.

Experts remind consumers to check their ATOL protection before finalizing any high-value holiday bookings this month.