Holidaymakers make most of trips by also seeing live gigs

HOLIDAYMAKERS are making the most of their trips abroad – by tagging on live gigs, according to research.

A poll of 2,000 people who go on trips abroad found 63 per cent have been on a break where they had combined it with a live event.

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And 58 per cent of those who have and haven’t done it before would like to do it in the future, either again or for the first time.

Broadening their cultural horizons (24 per cent) and getting an opportunity you wouldn’t in the UK (31 per cent) were among the main drivers for combining holidays and entertainment.

It’s not just live music that holidaymakers want to see, as 32 per cent also dream of attending a sports event abroad.

Football (44 per cent), tennis (19 per cent) and motorsports (15 per cent) are the most popular choices.

Of those who have already attended an event abroad, popular European locations included Paris (19 per cent), Barcelona (15 per cent) and Rome (11 per cent).

Cris Miller, a spokesperson for viagogo, which commissioned the research, said: “More than ever before, people want to maximise their holiday experiences.

“Going to a live event to support your favourite team or discover a new artist has become the ultimate way to enrich a trip abroad.

“Our insights show that thousands of Brits are combining travel with live events this year, heading to the upcoming Rugby World Cup, Formula 1, Tomorrowland festival or catching world touring acts like Beyonce and Coldplay. 

“With more than 50 million event listings, fans looking to add an event onto an existing trip or plan one around their best-loved act or team –  are spoiled for choice.”

The results also found rock (35 per cent), pop (33 per cent), and classical music (20 per cent) topped the list of genres holiday-goers would like to see when overseas.

R&B and soul (18 per cent), Indie (17 per cent) and country music (16 per cent) also made the ranking of most sought-after sounds.

Nearly half (45 per cent) would much rather experience a live event in the city of a different country.

Beach towns (31 per cent), iconic venues (27 per cent) and lakeside areas (17 per cent) also proved popular.

When planning a trip abroad, 49 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, make sure to see if any events they liked were happening while they’re there.

And 23 per cent would most likely extend their trip to last three to four days – if it meant they could squeeze in a live event.

Cris Miller added: “New York was voted the number one dream place to go and experience an amazing live event, with both Tokyo and Sydney in the top 10.

“This is no surprise – The Big Apple is packed with world -class music venues, sporting arenas and cultural sites that create fantastic ‘bucket list’ experiences.

“Slightly closer to home, Spain, Italy and France were all well-represented, as Brits continue to consider soaring travel and accommodation prices.

“Fans want somewhere easy and convenient where they have access to tickets in almost 200 countries, with listings to suit every budget.”

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