‘Sunshine Saturday’: UK corporations count on 5% January rise in vacation bookings | Travel & leisure

UK journey corporations are bracing for one among their busiest intervals for bookings as winter-wearied customers plan sunny breaks, with bundle vacation bookings forecast to be up 5% this January.

The Civil Aviation Authority, the regulator that administers the Atol journey monetary safety scheme, has forecast that 200,000 extra holidaymakers will e book journeys this month in contrast with the 4.3 million who did so in the identical interval final yr.

January is nicely referred to as a growth time for vacation planning as households crave one thing to look ahead to after Christmas, with demand peaking on the weekends, notably the primary one – identified within the business as Sunshine Saturday for its bumper variety of bookings.

However, reserving patterns are forecast to shift this yr in direction of quieter locations, corresponding to Malta’s sister island, Gozo, and long-haul areas, in keeping with TravelGrocery store.

Gozo was the fastest-rising vacation spot for 2026, with a 1,900% enhance in searches yr on yr, the worth comparability web site mentioned, whereas Sri Lanka has climbed 44 locations within the rankings with a 605% rise.

Traditional hotspots stay dominant in total search volumes, TravelGrocery store discovered. Tenerife has reclaimed the highest spot for 2026, whereas Malta, Egypt, Dubai and Fuerteventura have all climbed sharply.

The UK journey company physique Abta additionally mentioned many travellers had been reserving additional forward than ordinary, with a major variety of holidays being secured for summer season 2026 and even into 2027.

Melissa Hawkins, a advertising and marketing supervisor for Dorset Cottage Holidays, mentioned: “Bookings for stays over the first weekend back after Christmas are up 60% year-on-year … From what we’re seeing, that post-Christmas lull is being used more deliberately.

“People have the headspace to plan … Short breaks and shoulder-season stays are proving especially popular, particularly with families and multi-generational groups who want something straightforward but high quality. There’s also a noticeable confidence in booking earlier.”

A spokesperson for Jet2.com and Jet2holidays mentioned: “Sunshine Saturday is traditionally a busy time for holiday bookings. We are expecting that to be the case this year, as customers flock to book their award-winning flights and holidays with the UK’s favourite tour operator and airline.”

The TravelGrocery store analysis additionally discovered that Menorca, Lake Como and Sicily have seen the steepest declines in search curiosity. Several Italian locations and elements of the Caribbean have additionally cooled in contrast with final yr.

The information suggests Britons are ready to journey additional, with the typical flight time of searched locations rising by greater than 20 minutes yr on yr, reflecting rising curiosity in mid-haul and long-haul journey.

Rory Boland, the editor of the journal Which? Travel, urged customers to not “feel pressured into booking in a hurry” this weekend regardless of it being “advertised as a prime time to grab a holiday bargain”.

He mentioned: “Consider your options and shop around to make sure you’re getting the right holiday for you, at the right price. If you are flexible on destination, there are offers throughout the year.”