Currency rates influence gap year decisions

People heading on a gap year in 2010 will take exchange rates into account when picking their destinations, an industry commentator has claimed.

Bob Atkinson, a travel expert at TracelSupermarket.com, said that currency rates will always affect people's travel choices.

"The rate clearly affects the price of the holiday as room rates and other services are factored into the overall cost in one form or another," he added.

Mr Atkinson said that this is even more pertinent for gap year travellers in the recession, with many heading to non-Euro destinations like Thailand and South Africa.

However, the expert added that while the rates are a major influence, they are not the only factor people consider and many will not be put off by poor exchange rates if the country is a must-see spot.

Recently research from Travelzoo has stated that many people plan to travel more next year than they did in 2009, with 55 per cent of UK respondents intending to do so.

( Last Updated: 2009-12-24 19:40:39)