When it comes to a traditional holiday, it seems that some holidaymakers are all about the sun and sand … but not the sea.
While a dip in the hotel pool or a splash in the sea are an integral part of any holiday in the sun for most Brits, many steer clear of the water altogether.
A new survey has revealed that 19 per cent of people never go for a swim or even a paddle in the sea, whether they are at home or abroad.
The survey, carried out by holiday company Sunshine.co.uk, found that 21 per cent of those who never dared to dip their toes in were avoiding the water because they were either scared or simply didn’t like it.
But the main reason behind the lack of exposure to the water was a simple case of circumstances. More than 75 per cent said they had never been in the sea because the opportunity had never presented itself.
The survey also found that 13 per cent of Brits had never been abroad and 9 per cent had never been on the beach overseas, so it’s easy to see how the opportunity to jump in the sea may never have cropped up for some.
“I was totally surprised to see that the average person over the age of 30 in the UK has only visited two countries abroad and that those countries were as close as you can get; Spain and France,” said Chris Clarkson, Sunshine.co.uk co-founder.
“There’s a whole world out there to see, with different cultures to experience and sights that you couldn’t even imagine, so it’s really sad to think so many have missed out.”
It was found that the average Brit had only visited two countries in their lifetime, but had a further eight on their travel wish list.
“It’s never too late to get your exploring shoes on; you don’t even need a big budget or a lot of time off work. I’d suggest planning your holidays in a way that you don’t visit the same resort year after year; you go to a different part of the world each time,” added Mr Clarkson.
“As long as you plan properly, going abroad doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and, more often than not, it’s even cheaper than a UK break!”
