Insights Weekly Roundup

Insight Weekly Roundup 27/10/2025

Industry: 

• Expedia's latest annual report, 'Unpack '26: The Trends in Travel' highlights shifts in traveller behvaiour and the destinations set to dominate inineraries in 2026. From Destinations of the Year to salvaged hotels and reading retreats, to Banana Ball and farm stays, the seven trends in Unpack '26 offer a look at the future of travel. Each trend is backed by first-party data and insights from 24,000 global travelers. Expedia - Unpack '26: The Trends in Travel (15 October 2025)
• International visitors spent an additional £562 million across Britain as a result of activity by VisitBritain/VisitEngland, latest figures show. Results also show that 60% of this estimated additioanl spedn was in destinations outside of London. The agency reported the futures which cover its activity for the 2024-2025 financial year, as it was set to bring industry leaders together as its annual review event on 21 October, outlining its priorities and activities to grow the visitor economy and support the UK Government's ambition of 50 million international visitors annually by 2030. Visit Britain - VisitBritain/Visit England activity boosts economy by £562 milion as agency sets out plans to drive growth (23 October 2025)

Consumer: 

• According to the latest Long-Haul Travel Barometer, overall long-haul travel demand for September to December 2025 has declined compared to the previous year, with 55% of respondents planning an overseas trip - a 4% drop. The share of travellers reluctant to embark on long-distance journeys has risen notably in China, Brazil, and Canada, indicating a growing sense of caution. Despite this, intentions to visit Europe remain steady: 38% of respondents across seven major overseas markets plan to travel to Europe in the coming months, underscoring the region's resilience amid a challenging global climate. Long-Haul Travel Barometer 3/2025 - ETC Corporate (October 2025)

Closer to Home: 

• Irish consumer sentiment fell to a three-month low in October as rising living costs and reduced fiscale supports threatened a difficult winter for many households and an associated outbreak of 'feel-bad' among consumers. The monthly change in sentiment might be regarded as relatively modest given that Budget '26 measures are expected to affect spending power for the majorirty of consumers, and there has been a renewed pick-up in inflation of late. Credit Union Ireland - ROI Consumer Confidence Index (24 October 2025)

Insight Weekly Roundup 20/10/2025

Consumer: 

• The latest edition of the Long-Haul Barometer, published by the European Travel Commission (ETC), shows that overall long-haul travel demand for September to December 2025 has declined compared to last year, with 55% of respondents planning an overseas trip, down 4%. The share of travelers unwilling to travel longer distances has risen particularly in China, Brazil and Canada, signaling a growing sense of caution. Within this picture, intentions to visit Europe remain steady, underlining the region's resilience in a challneging global environment. ETC - Long-Haul Barometer 3/2025 (9 October 2025)
• The latest results from ABTA's annual Travel Confidence Index shows the UK is feeling even more  confident about travelling overseas. The Index reveals a score of +53 for the UK population overall; up 6 points compared with last year, and up 12 points since ABTA introduced the index in 2023. When it comes to the areas that travel companies should focus on to build consumer confidence to travel, helping customers get the correct documents for travel (e.g. valid passport or visa) continues to be the most important area, with this rated ‘essential’ by 68% of respondents. ABTA – Travel Confidence Index 2025-26 (2 October 2025)

Nighttime Economy: 

• Funding for a one-year pilot scheme extending hours for late night transport in Belfast has been confirmed by the Northern Ireland Executive. The late-night buses will run on Friday and Saturday evenings, with the total estimated costs for the pilot in the region of £650,000. Translink welcomed the news, saying it would build on "the success" of previous late-night services at Christmas, and help to "explore the long-term potential for extended late-night operations". The details of the pilot late-night services have not yet been announced. BBC - Funding agreed for late-night buses pilot (17 October 2025)

Insight Weekly Roundup 13/10/2025

Industry: 

• The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) latest report 'The Future of Work in Travel & Tourism', reveals that while the tourism sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035, demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43 million people if left unaddressed. In 2024, the sector supported a record 357 million jobs worldwide and is forecast to support 371 million jobs this year.  World Travel & Tourism Council - The Future of Work in Travel (30 September 2025)   
• Skyscanner's 'The Future of Travel 2026' report finds that 84% of their global survey aim to travel more in 2026. While travellers may increasingly be looking to travel abroad more, they're stretching their budgets to make room for richer, more rewarding experiences. In turn, travel demand continues its shift towards more conscientious choices, with a third of travellers looking to avoid over-touristed areas in favour of the quieter and less visisted. Skyscanner Travel Trends - The Future of Travel & Tourism (9 October 2025).

US Visitors to Ireland: 

• North American tourists significantly boosted Ireland's tourism sector in 2025, offsetting declines in visitors from the UK and Europe, with events like the NFL and College Football games drawing thousands of Americans who tend to spend more and stay longer. Industry leaders are increasingly concerned however about over-reliance on the US market amid economic uncertainty, a weakening dollar, and rising domestic costs, prompting calls for diversification and government support. The Irish Times - Americans saved the tourism sector this year, but will that continue? (3 October 2025).

Consumer: 

• After four months of elevated confidence, September saw a return to levels seen in the first part of the year. The latest Lloyds Business Barometer saw a reduction of 12 points in September, with confidence remaining above the long-term average of 29%, close to the average seen across 2024 (44%) and above the average in 2023 (33%). Lloyds Bank - Business Barometer Septermber 2025 (30 Septemebr 2025).

Closer to Home: 

• The Central Statistics Office (CSO) Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.7% between September 2024 and September 2025, up from an annual increase of 2.0% in the 12 months to August 2025. This is the highest annual rate of inflation observed in the CPI since March 2024 when the rate was +2.9%. Central Statistics Office - Consumer Price Index September 2025 (9 October 2025)

Insight Weekly Roundup 29/09/2025

Consumer: 

• Findings from the latest quarterly Credit Union Northern Ireland Consumer Sentiment Survey show that Northern Ireland consumer confidence improved significantly between May and August 2025. The upswing in sentiment largely reflects easing concerns around household finances, while Northern Ireland consumers also became a little less negative about the general economic outlook over the three-month period. However, nervousness around job prospects has increased somewhat. Credit Union Ireland – NI Consumer Confidence Index (16 September 2025) 
• GfK’s long-running UK Consumer Confidence Index decreased by two points to -19 in September. All measures were down in comparison to last month’s announcement. The August 7th decrease in interest rates does not appear to have provided any obvious boost to the financial mood of consumers or drawn attention away from day-to-day cost issues. Looking ahead, with tax rises expected in the autumn budget in November, there is the potential for confidence to fall further in the coming months. GfK – UK Consumer Confidence Index (19 September 2025) 

Economy: 

• Over the second quarter of 2025, economic activity in Northern Ireland increased by 2.0%. The largest contribution to change this quarter came from increased activity in the Services sector (1.3 pps), followed by the Construction sector (0.4 pps). Over the year economic activity increased by 3.5%, with positive contributions from all sectors. NISRA – Northern Ireland Composite Economic Index (25 September 2025) 

Closer to Home: 

• Irish consumer sentiment edged fractionally higher in September, effectively signalling no change in consumer thinking of late. Worries about the outlook for the economy, warnings about the looming Budget ’26, and weakness in spending power are all weighing on the mood of Irish consumers at present. That said, the September survey suggests that the current mood of Irish consumers is one of concern rather than collapse. Credit Union Ireland – ROI Consumer Confidence Index (26 September 2025)