16/07/2005

Brits spend £6.2 billion* on holidays to revive flagging relationships and put the spark back into their love lives states research** released today by Churchill Travel Insurance.  The stresses and strains of everyday life mean that over two thirds of us (67%) are using sunshine breaks as rescue remedies to bond with our other halves.

But it isn't only couples who attempt to rebuild their relationships on holiday - Churchill's study shows that eight in ten (82%) people believe that holidays help them get closer to their family and friends as well.

When broken down in terms of relationship type, Churchill's research shows that:

• 4.6 million people use holidays to make up for lost time with their children
• 3.8 million attempt to resurrect friendships
• 2 million look to rebuild their relationships with their parents
• 1.5 million use the opportunity to try and get on better with their siblings

Julie Owens, Head of Churchill Travel Insurance, said: "The demands of the modern world mean that we’re always trying to play 'catch-up' with our relationships.  Instead of just a week or two of stress free time, our holiday is now also a relationship building session."

The pressures of life in the 21st century are highlighted by the fact that one in five respondents (22%) say they go on holiday because it's the only quality time they get to spend with their family or friends.  However, holidays are often not the desired 'chill-out' that we all want or need them to be. Nearly two thirds (62%) take their mobile phones with them and a staggering 1.4 million take their laptops to keep in touch with home life or the office. A further 1.2 million of us cannot relax at all on holiday.
Other findings include:

• Nearly one in five (18%) most look forward to holidays because it gives them more opportunity to make love. This increases to 24 per cent among the '50-something second honeymooners' (aged between 51 and 55)
• 14.3 per cent of men admit they go on holiday because they 'have to' or it’s expected of them by their family, friends or partner
• Nearly one in five people (18%) said that holidays do not help the bonding process and can even make a struggling relationship even worse - more women (15.9%) than men (9.8%) say that holidays actually leave them feeling stressed

This research shows that holidays can actually be a minefield of emotions as many us attempt to make up for 'lost time' and try to repair the cracks in our relationships.

Media Psychotherapist and Life Coach, Christine Webber said: "If people are hoping that a holiday will magically correct serious relationship issues, they’re living in cloud cuckoo land. Being together - day in day out – on holiday with your partner can repair a relationship that isn't functioning well - but more commonly it exposes the cracks in it."

Churchill's Julie Owens added: "Although it is not always plain sailing, forty two million*** of us will still be holidaying this year and having a great time.  Sunshine and new horizons often provide the perfect tonic for stressed out Brits."

*Calculation based on 22.3% (the number of people who go on holiday because it's the only time they get to spend with their partner/family/friends) of 42m (the number of people who a holiday last year - CEBR report) multiplied by £668 (average spend on holiday) = £6.2billion

**Research carried out for Churchill Insurance by 72 Point in April 2005. 1150 people were interviewed.
*** CEBR report April 2005

For more information please contact:

Greg Dawson
Churchill Insurance
020 8285 3277
pressoffice@churchill.com

Travel Insurance is underwritten by Indemnity Insurance Limited. Calls may be recorded. Conditions apply.