Millions of British holidaymakers book trips to sun-drenched foreign destinations – but have no idea where they are on the map, according to research. A study, of 2,000 people who traveled abroad last year, shows 53% of those who went to Cyprus have no idea where it is in reality – commonly confusing it with mainland Greece.
Just under half of people who booked a sunny break in Turkey were unable to identify it on the map, with many placing it where Ukraine is (despite it being over 1,200 miles away).
And more than one in ten of those who went to France found it difficult to locate their chosen destination, with many pinpointing it where Belgium lies.
A similar number who were lucky enough to enjoy the sunny climes of Italy were unsure of their location, most commonly mistaking it for Belarus on the world map.
It also emerged one in five would be hard pushed to name the capital city of the country they visited, while 27% wouldn’t be able to name any of the neighbouring nations.
Claire Bentley spokeswoman for British Airways Holidays, which carried out the research by asking holidaymakers to pinpoint where they went on map of Europe, said:
”This research shows people are going to all the effort of booking themselves a lovely holiday abroad, and yet so many have absolutely no idea of where they are actually going.
”It is surprising to think that people are prepared to spend their hard earned wages on a holiday, without researching something as important as its location.
”We know that cost and temperature is often the most important factor for adults wanting to book a holiday, but 23% of our respondents admitted they would never think to look at where it is on the map before booking.”
The study indicates that a quarter of people who traveled to Spain last year for their holiday do not know where it is on the map.
Respondents selected a variety of other countries on the map rather than settling on Spain itself – with France coming out on top.
Portugal is another destination which leaves Brits baffled – as 31% of adults couldn’t pinpoint its location, opting again for France on the map.
The Netherlands caused concern for 36% of people who holidayed there last year as they also couldn’t find it on the map, choosing Denmark as its home.
France was also the most common destination to be selected in favour of Germany and Greece, which 22% and 29% couldn’t place respectively.
Shockingly, even Ireland leaves Brits bewildered – an incredible, 24% who visited our neighbouring country last year were unable to say where it was in Europe, believing they were in the UK or Spain instead.
Overall, a third of respondents admitted they found it difficult to pinpoint where they went on holiday.
When booking a holiday, the temperature of the country turned out to be the most important factor for 65% of people, closely followed by local attractions (61%).
Accommodation is incredibly important for 52% of people, and a further 48% always look into what the hotel’s facilities are like.
Currency is a concern for 47% of people, while others like to find out about the swimming pools (24%), the nearest beach (34%) and one in ten Brits like to know where the pubs are.
But four in ten people admit they often travel to a holiday destination knowing little about where they are going – having failed to research cultural differences, where it is on the map, where local hospitals or doctor’s surgeries are, the price of food and drink or places of interest.
Seven in ten people realised they should be more knowledgeable about their holiday destinations in the future.
MOST COMMON HOLIDAYS TAKENCAN’T PINPOINT ON A MAPCOMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Cyprus53%Greece
France14%Belgium
Germany22%France
Greece29%France
Italy13%Belarus
Portugal31%France
Spain23%France
Turkey49%Ukraine
Ireland24%UK
The Netherlands36%Denmark
(Link to the infographic- http://imgur.com/a/lJSpo#0)
