Holiday companies report a surge in demand for long-distance breaks for people like Thailand and Vietnam now, which are often “more cost-effective” than visiting traditional European favorites.

On Tuesday, travel brand Kuoni said long-distance bookings in the previous year were 14% higher than the same time in 2024.

Meanwhile, online package resort company Thomas Cook reported a 10% year-on-year increase in long-distance bookings.

Its special interest in “experienced travel” includes things like wildlife encounters, cooking classes and focusing on well-being, Cooney said.

The company's most popular long-distance destinations are Maldives, Thailand, Antigua, Vietnam and South Africa.

Mark Duguid, Managing Director of Kuoni UK, said the brand had a "great" start in a "year-old" "in a good destination for global sales." "It's obvious that for many different reasons, long distances are really winning now."

However, long-haul flights have long been criticized for their significant environmental impacts related to the carbon emissions they generate.

Value for money as a common theme of current popularity, while Vietnam is emphasized as “a great example of somewhere that leads to directions with experience and adventure travel”, its city, food, culture and beaches have created together Special travel "at affordable prices".

In Thomas Cook, a spokesperson said that in summer months, the price of rest in remote locations is often “compared with holidays in medicine, so people are willing to go further and spend.”

This enthusiasm for traveling further regions may also be related to pension changes announced in the budget last October, leading to forecasts that some seniors may withdraw more pensions to make money and spend it on holidays and other large In order to reduce the value of its property.

Thomas Cook said one of the biggest “winners” is the United States, especially New York, Florida and Las Vegas. At the time of writing, the company is selling a seven-night package to Las Vegas, including a return flight from London, for less than £550 per person.

The spokesman added: “Mauritius and Thailand offer great value, especially for families who want to explore new countries.”

Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, an independent travel agency network, said it has been strong in Long-Haul Travel Overty Priendation Partners so far this year, with demand accelerating over the past few weeks.

“Many families find that long-distance destinations are more cost-effective during school holidays than European alternatives, especially in areas such as Thailand and the Far East, where local costs remain attractive,” she said.

She added that the popularity of shows like White Lotus in the current third season is set in Thailand, and the Love Island All-Stars of ITV filmed in South Africa will attract new interest in these destinations during the 2025 holiday .

The budget last October announced that the remaining amounts left in the pension plan that will be left behind after an individual’s death will be included in the estate tax calculation from April 2027. This has led to claims that such "tax acquisition" may backfire in some quarters. A former pension minister quoted the policy as saying that it created a “huge motivation” to spend money rather than save money.