Travel agents in the UK are pushing for a significant change in the school holiday system to help families save money. Advantage Travel Partnership, representing over 4,000 travel agents, is advocating for a complete revamp to prevent families with children in state schools from being overcharged.
Currently, there is a substantial price increase for vacations taken in the latter part of July and August, coinciding with the summer holidays of most UK school children. British families could end up paying an extra £388 per person if they travel during school holidays instead of term times. A study revealed that a family of four typically spends an additional £716 on average for holidaying during school breaks throughout the year compared to traveling in term time, with costs escalating further during the extended summer break.
The inflated costs have driven some families to consider paying fines for taking their children out of school during term time. To address this issue, Julia Lo Bue-Said, the CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, is urging the Department of Education to reconsider the school holiday calendar. The proposal aims to offer families flexibility in choosing alternative travel periods, potentially easing demand and lowering prices.
Lo Bue-Said highlighted the dilemma faced by many British families who struggle between high prices and taking children out of school. She emphasized the need for a practical solution as travel patterns evolve. One suggestion is to shorten the summer break and extend the May half-term or stagger half-terms nationwide, similar to practices in other countries like Sweden.
The current system disproportionately affects families with children in state schools, as private schools often have longer holidays, enabling them to access cheaper travel options earlier in the summer. Lo Bue-Said emphasized the need for a fair discussion on this matter and encouraged collaboration between the travel industry and policymakers to explore viable solutions.
Given the growing trend of travel in shoulder seasons like May and September and the declining appeal of traditional Mediterranean destinations due to soaring summer temperatures, Lo Bue-Said stressed the timeliness of initiating this national debate on school holiday reforms.
