As the US opens its borders to UK travellers for the first time in nearly 20 months, ABTA reveals huge pent-up demand for people wishing to jet off to the States. New data from ABTA reveal almost 1 in 5 (18%) of people who plan to holiday abroad hope to travel to the USA over the next year – making it the second most popular destination UK holidaymakers say they plan to travel to.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said: “British holidaymakers are now able to enjoy a long-anticipated break in the USA again. The reopening of travel to the US is a very welcome development. The US is currently the second most popular destination on holidaymakers’ wish list for the next year. Pre-pandemic figures show that 4.8 million UK travellers visited the destination in 2019, drawn by vibrant cities, national parks and entertainment venues, with New York and Florida among the most popular destinations.”

The US is also a destination where people go to study, visit friends and relatives and do business. The reconnecting of the US and UK is a significant step in the recovery of international travel, helping to re-establish vital trade links which are so vital to the delivery of the government’s ambition to build a truly global Britain, he added.