We can’t go away without teabags or marmalade

A World Travel Market survey of more than 1,000 holiday-makers shows almost a third take their own teabags on holiday.

Around 20% take health supplements such as vitamins and protein shakes with them.

Other items we can’t seem to do without include ketchup and marmalade, while 7% take a picture of a pet they left at home.

Of those surveyed, two in three go online while away, with most doing so to check emails.

As many as 41% spend up to three hours online each day.

The survey also found only 11% of travellers had bought a guidebook in the last six months.

The WTM global travel trade show kicked off in London yesterday, with Tourism Ireland strongly represented in an attempt to arrest the decline in tourist traffic from Britain.

With more than 200 countries vying for business, Tourism Ireland chief Niall Gibbons said it is aiming to stand out from the crowd and capture the attention of the influential global media and travel trade.

The Gathering Ireland 2013, the biggest and most ambitious tourism-led event ever held in Ireland, will be the highlight of next year, and so is the subject of a major focus on the Tourism Ireland stand.

“The large representation of our industry partners on the Tourism Ireland stand at WTM this year is extremely welcome and essential in the highly competitive global marketplace,” said Mr Gibbons.

“2011 has seen a welcome return to growth in visitors to Ireland from markets like North America. However, the British market is still proving difficult.”