Women are more decisive than men about their holiday plans, a survey by travel trade show World Travel Market revealed. Issues affecting travel such as the ash cloud crisis had an impact on only 13 per cent of women compared with 22 per cent of men, the poll found.

Men were also much more likely to be influenced in their choice of holiday by social websites such as TripAdvisor or Facebook. A total of 63 per cent of men, but only 51 per cent of women, had changed their minds about a holiday after engaging with social media.

As many as 24 per cent of men, but only five per cent of women changed their airline while 20 per cent of men and nine per cent of women changed their holiday booking.

The survey was based on responses from 1,000 UK holidaymakers, all of whom had a summer holiday this year.