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Facebook fuels rise of copycat holidays

1st August 2011 Print

One in four Brits have booked an exotic holiday – after suffering from holiday envy over a friend’s foreign jaunt, a study revealed today.

After viewing someone’s holiday snaps, listening to tales from the trip and even being kept updated via social networking websites, three quarters of people admit they often get hit by the green-eyed monster.

Twenty-seven per cent are left feeling so envious of their friend’s break, they end up booking their own holiday soon after.

One in ten also admitted to arranging their own holiday after hearing about someone else’s trip, despite originally having no plans to go away anywhere.

And almost a fifth of jealous Brits have even booked an identical trip, right down to the same hotel, apartment or villa, after hearing about their friend’s getaway.

Researchers for Teletext Holidays found that the rise in popularity of social networking is adding to the jealous streak, with more than half of Brits putting their holiday snaps on their profile to show off where they have been.

And a quarter also admitted to regularly updating their social networking profile with details of the weather and the fun they are having.

After seeing the Facebook photos on a friend’s profile, 13 per cent of people have gone on to book a similar holiday, while another six per cent have arranged a break after seeing someone’s status.

Another one in ten Brits have also booked their own exotic trip abroad after discovering they were the only one of their friends, relatives or work colleagues not to have gone to a tropical destination.

Mark Bloxham, marketing director, Teletext Holidays: “It’s not surprising that holiday envy is on the rise. Social networking sites make it easier than ever to gloat about where you’ve been or where you are going.”

“More people are updating their status from their sunlounger or posting photos of themselves at the airport, on the beach or next to a world famous landmark, so it’s not surprising that anyone reading it wants some of the excitement for themselves.”

“New technology means that the minute you’ve booked a holiday you can immediately share that information with friends – who can then go on to book exactly the same trip.”

The study of 3,000 Brits found that 58 per cent have been left green with envy after looking through friends’ or relatives’ holiday photos.

Twelve per cent have even refused to look at the snaps because they were too jealous, while another 11 per cent won’t listen to any stories.

And Australia was named as the destination most likely to leave others feeling jealous, followed by the Caribbean islands of the Bahamas and Barbados.

The USA, Maldives, New Zealand, Mauritius, Seychelles and Canada also featured in the top ten.  

The study also revealed that one in ten Brits have lied about how much fun they’ve had on a holiday to impress friends or colleagues.

Top ten destinations most likely to leave others feeling jealous

1. Australia
2. Bahamas
3. Barbados
4. United States of America
5. Maldives
6. New Zealand
7. Mauritius
8 Florida
9. Seychelles
10. Canada