With so much gloom at home the 50-plus are taking more holidays

The over fifties are more mobile and more active than ever before. Between 2005 and 2010 vacation travel by Europeans aged 55 and over expanded by 17 per cent.

This age group as a whole accounted for more than a quarter of all trips abroad. This corresponds to 78 million holiday trips. As far as holiday preferences are concerned, the over fifties are increasingly distancing themselves from the clichés associated with traditional travel by senior citizens.

While beach holidays outstrip any other type of vacation in Europe, and are even gaining in popularity, individual countries have their own preferences. At the same time, city tours, cruises and excursions have experienced a significant boost among the over fifty-fives.

All of this is according to an analysis commissioned by Messe Berlin and carried out by the World Travel Monitor. If you are in the travel business then you should have a read. Dick Stroud