EBOOKERS, THE UK’S FIRST ONLINE TRAVEL AGENT, REVEALS RESEARCH AS THE WEB TURNS 30

Brits have voted the internet the greatest modern invention, according to new research released today by ebookers. In the month that the internet turns 30, ebookers – the UK’s first online travel agent – is celebrating how the internet has impacted travel over the decades and the freedom it has granted us.

In its 30-year existence, the internet has completely changed the way we book travel – and Brits can’t get enough. After bestowing the accolade of top modern invention, ebookers’ research found that Brits credit the internet with affording them more cost-effective holidays (42%), more control over booking (44%) and access to more destinations than ever before (41%).

ebookers are celebrating their own 21st anniversary this year and their research shows that price comparison sites (43%), booking entire trips in one easy transaction (26%) and being able to use mobile technology to book on the go (14%) are the most important online travel developments to UK consumers.

“The internet totally revolutionised how we book travel and opened us up to, quite literally, a world of opportunity. Without a doubt, Brits have the travel bug – ebookers has seen a 600% increase in booking demand since we began 21 years ago, and UK holidaymakers show no sign of slowing down,” commented ebookers brand GM, Robin Sutherland.

He added: “ebookers was the first travel brand in the UK to harness the potential of the internet. Two decades on and we offer millions of travel options and combinations, so no matter how unique your travel needs, there’s a perfect trip for you.”

Such is Brits’ love of technology that the most popular methods of booking travel are all online: PC (52%), mobile (27%) and tablet (21%) are the most used. On top of that, looking ahead, four in ten (41%) Brits believe that all travel will be booked online within the next ten years.