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The Institute of British Geographer's Conference: South-east and North take the lead in foreign holidays

Stan Abbott
Thursday 07 January 1993 00:02 GMT
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PEOPLE in south-east and northern England take more foreign package holidays than those in other regions of Britain, the conference was told.

The South-east and the North - Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Co Durham and Cleveland - are the only regions whose share of the number of Britons holidaying abroad exceeds their share of the total population.

London and South-east accounted for 31 per cent of the population, but 40 per cent of overseas holidaymakers. The North had 8 per cent of the population, but 9 per cent of holidaymakers. Least willing to head for foreign shores appear to be West Midlanders - the region has 8.8 per cent of the population, but 6.6 per cent of holidaymakers.

Research by Reece Andrew, of Luton College of Higher Education, showed steady growth in the inclusive tour market since 1969, corresponding with a growth in real disposable incomes and continuing through fluctuations in unemployment levels.

Plateaux in that growth related to economic downturns, for example in 1973, before a peak at more than 11 million trips abroad in 1989-90. The decline since then was due to the economic slump in the South-east.

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