Spending a week away to relax is an essential part of life for many people.
That's according to travel insider Scott Dunn, who told the BBC On The Money podcast a holiday abroad is "absolutely a necessity" for the majority of consumers.
"There is that sense that...you need to look forward to something and January is a time when people get a little bit down", said Dunn, cited by news.opodo.co.uk. "Having a holiday to look forward to is incredibly important."
The urge to change scenery and to break the daily routine were cited as reasons why people want to go on holiday, be it domestically or to another country. This could involve purchasing short or long-haul flights, a swanky hotel or exceptional car hire to make a holiday that extra bit special.
According to Direct Travel Insurance, the summer is earmarked as the best time to go away for a break as the middle of the year comes at just the right time to "just take a break from the stress of work".
The recent sinking of the Costa Concordia likely won't deter many people from going on holiday this year, Dunn claimed, as the popularity of heading on a trip never seems to dwindle.
"This particular case is literally one in a million," he said. "It's very unusual and I do not think it will have a broader effect."