Travel money sales this month exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time, according to new data from Eurochange.
Sales were up 20% from last June and were ahead of June 2019, showing that international travel is finally back after years of restrictions hit holiday plans.
Eurochange said: “This milestone of exceeding pre-pandemic levels of currency sales signifies a much-awaited resurgence in the travel industry. It mirrors the broader trends observed in the sector, providing optimism for a sustained recovery.”
The Saudi Riyal and Japanese Yen helped drive the rebound, with sales rocketing by more than 1800% and 700%, respectively. The top five currencies - the Euro, US Dollar, Turkish Lira, Canadian Dollar and UAE Dirham - remained the same, though. Each of the top four saw an increase in sales, but the Dirham declined very slightly.
The Thai Baht was another fast riser, as it jumped from the 16th most popular currency to the sixth.
On the other hand, the Mexican Peso, Bulgarian Lev and Hungarian Forint fell down the rankings.
Travel appears to have shown impressive resilience amid the cost-of-living crisis, as Britons keep up their spending on major experiences, even as they cut back elsewhere.
Eurochange managing director Charles Stewart said: “The fact that we’ve surpassed our pre-pandemic sales levels highlights the resilience of UK travellers and their appetite for overseas travel.”
