• Since Brexit, Asian tourist destinations have become more popular
• European destinations have seen a decrease in popularity
• Asia is a cheaper continent overall for Brits to visit
With Article 50 set in motion and the UK on its way out of the EU, long haul destinations such as Dubai are increasing in popularity among British families looking to get more bang for their buck.
Since the value of the pound began to drop in June last year, data from Escape Travel Money Prepaid MasterCard®, shows that card spend in Asia is on the up, with Dubai seeing a 26 per cent rise and places like Indonesia and Thailand seeing an even higher increase of 32 and 34 per cent.
This data mirrors that of Travel Republic, which recently reported a 64% surge in family holiday bookings to Dubai in the first quarter of the year. It is matched by a drop in card spend in Europe. Card spend data also shows that holiday makers are spending 27 per cent less in Spain, proving that travellers are willing to forgo the short flights to get the best value for money.
Jane McKean from Escape said: "We usually see a much smaller percentage of our customer base using cards in destinations like Dubai but since the 'leave' vote, we've definitely seen a surge in people opting to travel and spend further afield.
"While European destinations are still relatively cheap to get to, holiday makers are finding it more expensive to buy things once they're there. We believe this is the reason they're choosing to take advantage of a cheaper cost of holidaying in some long haul destinations.
“Dubai offers everything a family would want in a holiday. A full itinerary of activities is available, from indoor ski resorts and water parks to museums and views such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Thailand and Indonesia are both cheaper than Dubai and offer a more 
rural setting. With shallow seas and animals such as monkeys and elephants close enough to touch, it’s a paradise for families looking for a fun holiday.”
Escape Travel Card makes the perfect companion for holiday makers venturing out of Europe - it can be used all over the world, wherever the MasterCard® Acceptance Mark is displayed,with no transaction fees*. If the bill is £50, the card user will pay £50 and not a penny more.
Jane added: "The Escape Travel Card means you can try out lots of new destinations without being left with unused currency in your pocket. Unlike many other currency cards, you load it with GBP and conversion is done on use, no matter where you are in the world. This means you can use it in multiple destinations, on the same trip or future holidays, without paying to re-convert currencies. If you have cash left over when you get home, you can simply withdraw it from an ATM or spend it in a shop or restaurant.”
For more information, visit: www.escapetravelcard.com.
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