Festival-goers heading overseas this year

The travel industry expects to see an exodus of British festival-goers from the UK this year, as the popular Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled.

Travel association ABTA is expecting many people to go in search of summer music events across Europe, tempted by low ticket prices and good weather. The festival in Somerset usually takes place every summer, but has a break every five years in order for the land to recover. The cancellation of the festival means that people will be looking elsewhere to get their fill of summer music, with many choosing to head abroad.

“Taking in an overseas music festival this summer is a great way of combining two British love affairs; live music and summer holidays abroad,” said Victoria Bacon ABTA Head of Communications.

“British festival goers are an adventurous bunch and more and more of them are happy to go that extra mile for some truly amazing and memorable experiences.”

The majority of festivals in Europe are much cheaper than the British ones, with some offering tickets for as little as £39 per person. Even with the cost of travel to the country where the festival is held, the overall price is still cheaper than the likes of the V Festival or Reading and Leeds Festivals in Britain.

“Ticket prices in Europe are often much lower than the UK and food and beer can be a lot cheaper too,” said Ms Bacon. “There are now many specialist tour operators providing bespoke festival holidays that enable you to protect your money and ensure you avoid scams,” she added. Travelling to a music event in a foreign country can make the whole festival experience far more enjoyable, with a number of options available. Driving to a festival is a good idea if you plan on taking some bulky items, such as a tent. If you are thinking about hiring a car, consider taking out car hire insurance – covering the excess on a car rental agreement.

Date Created: 06/04/2012