Travel businesses optimistic about UK and international growth in spite of trade wars

UK travel businesses are optimistic about expansion plans despite trade challenges, with Europe leading as the top destination for growth

Two in three (68 per cent) UK travel businesses are optimistic about future international growth opportunities, even amidst the current challenging global climate, new research commissioned by Equals Money has revealed.

Surprisingly, 64 per cent expect protectionist tariffs – like those introduced by the U.S. government – to positively impact their international growth. A similar proportion (69 per cent) are equally confident that government initiatives, like the AI Opportunities Action Plan and plans to create the UK’s Silicon Valley, will spur growth in the domestic market.
However, despite the optimism, almost as many consider international expansion to be critical for survival (35 per cent) as view it as a desirable growth opportunity (37 per cent).
Nearly half of British travel businesses (47 per cent) are eyeing Europe as their top expansion target for the next five years, with a third (35 per cent) prioritising North America, and around a quarter looking toward East Asia (27 per cent) or Australasia (25 per cent).

Economic stability (34 per cent), regulatory conditions (33 per cent), and political stability (32 per cent) are the top factors driving market selection for expansion.

“Travel businesses are divided on whether international expansion is a golden growth opportunity or a necessity to ensure their survival,” said Thanim Islam, Head of FX Analysis at Equals Money. “While the potential rewards of international expansion are clear, they come with challenges – such as managing multi‑currency payments, navigating fluctuating exchange rates, handling compliance across regions, and scaling during peak periods. But with today’s digital tools and financial solutions, handling international payments and mitigating exchange rate risks is more manageable than ever.”