Social Media is Killing the Holiday Romance
The average length of a holiday romance is falling and social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook are at fault, according to a survey of 2000 people by holiday experts Latedeals.co.uk.
Although 93 per cent of couples that meet on holiday agree that social media sites make it easier to communicate at first, and can keep that holiday glow burning for longer, just over half said that things they find out about their holiday lover online meant that they dumped them before actually meeting face to face again.
Nearly two fifths of holidaymakers also stated that they were less likely to fall for someone while abroad because of the possibility of being stalked on Facebook once they get home, and a further 41 per cent admit to keeping an eye on their holiday romance online, once the relationship is supposed to be over.
There is some hope though, as despite the fact that the average holiday romance lasts just two months and five days, 10 per cent last over a year, and one in a thousand even results in marriage.
Calum Macdonald from Latedeals.co.uk, said: “The beauty of a holiday romance is that it doesn't have to last, it's more just a bit of fun at the time, and in many ways social media sites add to that excitement as couples can't wait to check out the people they've met and get in touch as soon as they get back.”
It will come as no surprise that the major factor that affects the long-terms success of a far-flung fling is the distance that the couple live apart back home. Of the 10 per cent of relationships that reach a year in length, 83 per cent live nearer than 40 miles apart.
The study also showed that people from Yorkshire are the most likely to make a holiday romance work, with the average length of their relationships being two months and 24 days. They beat Scotland which came second and London which took third place.
Of those questioned, the 16-24 age category were most likely to fall for someone on holiday, but also the least likely to keep it going, while 35-44 year olds have the best long-term record with their average fling lasting over three months.
Calum added: “An average of two months and five days might not sound great but lots of relationships that don't start on holiday are over just as quickly so perhaps it's not so bad.
“With Valentine's Day coming up singletons out there are probably best seeing a holiday romance as just that, and then anything further is a bonus!”
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Tagged in Travel romance Holidays Social Media