I found a travel survey done by Yougov a couple of years back with around 2000 respondents asking British people (and a separate one was for Americans) where they've been to abroad.

92% of British have been abroad, just 50% of Americans have (but IMO they have very good reasons, lots to see in their own country since the US is virtually a continent itself, very little vacation time, proximity to fewer countries).

For British people for where they have been:

Africa 30% (heavily inflated by North Africa, sharm el sheikh etc I suspect)
Asia 27%
Australia 14%
North America 44% (very impressive)
South America 12%
None of these 10%

For Americans:

Africa 5%
Asia 14%
Australia 6%
Europe 28%
South America 13%
None of these 60%

https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/11/21...led-americans/

So despite the criticisms America get for not travelling enough the numbers of Americans going to Europe and British people going to North America aren't that widely different (both under 50%)

I was really shocked how few very Brits have been to Australia, just 14%, I mean that's the same numbers as South America, joint last, remember the UK has very close links to Australia, with lots of relatives living there etc, so that is very surprising, given this countries complete and utter obsession with Aussie soaps, particularly back during the 90s.

I know its very expensive, but so are many other non European destinations, good numbers for North America though.

They are different. More Brits visit America than Americans visit the UK. Americans in general travel less, they stick to travelling in their country.

Whats so shocking about more people going somewhere closer, quicker and cheaper to get to?

You wouldnt want to go to sydney for the weekend, whereas you could go to new york

Should that be 27%?

I wonder if the likes of Israel and Turkey are included in Asia.

I've no intention of ever going to Australia. One of the biggest nanny states going and I hate the accent

Airfare to Australia is very expensive from the UK, plus once in Australia everything is very expensive. Plus the time it takes to get there and back. So compared to a trip to Europe (even somewhere very expensive like Sweden/Noway/Denmark), the cost of trip to Australia is going to be off the scale. Trips to USA are also much cheaper.

You're quite right, I've edited it now.

As for your second point, my parents claim they've "never" been to Asia, but they have been to Cyprus, which by some peoples definitions is part of Asia.

I'd consider Cyprus more Southern Europe than Asia.

I've been to North America and would go again because it's so vast and has many different climates, but the thought of going to Australia doesn't appeal to me. It's a beautiful country to be sure but just the flight alone puts me off and also I can't handle heat and am massively phobic of creepy crawlies and snakes, so the climate would render me unable to enjoy my time there.

Cyprus is in europe. Part of the island is claimed by turkey, but calling cyprus an asian country based on that would be similar to calling China a european country because part of it was controlled by the UK.

I don't see the point in going to Australia.

I'm surprised that almost half the adults in the UK have been to North America. If the survey is accurate that means that something like 20 million adults in the UK have been to North America - and presumably many of them took their kids.

I'd be seriously amazed if the 10% 'none of these' is correct. I'd expect to find that up around 40-50%. I'm the only one in my family who's travelled outside Europe, and we're not an especially hard up lot.

I agree, that 10 per cent quoted cannot be right.

EDIT: oh ok, the figures are 'apart from Europe'.

I'm sure the fact it takes 22hrs to fly between London and Sydney, compared to 7.5hrs it takes to go to New York, is completely irrelevant in that.

Sorry I should have included the 'been elsewhere in Europe' number of 87%. 10% is for the figure who've never been outside the UK.

It's looks like they are saying only 10% have not been to that list of destinations. All fairly far flung. IIRC more than 10% of us don't have passports, so haven't ever left the UK! Figures are bollocks.

What's there apart from Australians and horrible spiders?

I liked it. I generally like Australians. Spiders not so much. New Zealand would be my preference though.

I'm the opposite, not really interested in going to the States at all but I've been to Oz twice. Would love to go to NZ if I ever get the opportunity.

Why? The distance alone puts me off.

Its the big problem the Australian tourist board?

Nice place. But it costs a fortune to get too

Long and expensive flights.
Frightening creatures such as 6 inch spiders and alligators

No thanks



USA - hell yeah

The USA has the most dangerous wildlife in the world. No, not the Grizzly bear, the cowboy. As in man from the backwoods with a bloody great gun. It's still a great place though. They are very unlikely to shoot you on purpose, most of the like Brits.

I'll never have the money to go to either place, but I'd love to go to Australia. The only downside to going there though is spiders the size of small houses