Majority of people go online to make travel arrangements

Recent figures have shown that the Internet and access to broadband services have revolutionised the travel industry in the UK, with a huge majority of consumers using the Internet to make their travel arrangements.

In years gone by anyone that wanted to book a flight or holiday would either end up sitting with a travel agent for ages or glued to a phone trying to sort out flights, hotels, and package deals. Consumers not only had to go to a lot of trouble to get their holiday booked, but often had to pay more than they could realistically afford and had limited choice when it came to their holidays.

These days the travel industry has been revolutionised thanks to broadband Internet, and many officials have said that this is excellent news for consumers. Those looking to make travel arrangements and book holidays are able to enjoy a greater degree of control over their booking, far more choice, and excellent value for money compared to previously.

The popularity of making online bookings has also been reflected in a recent survey, which showed that eighty one percent of Facebook users booked their entire holiday via the Internet, with only eleven percent going to High Street travel agents to book their holiday. Fewer still now use the phone to make their travel arrangements with only eight percent saying that they got on the phone to book their holiday.

One industry official said that booking online gives consumers more choice, flexibility, and value for money, stating: “The benefit of being online is that it is like having a travel agent in your living room. You can sit there and within a couple of clicks you get a dozen prices on the things you wanted.” He added: “There doesn’t seem to be a slowing up in the number of people who will write about their experiences and share that online.”