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Holidaymakers set aside a fifth of their entire holiday spending money budget in order to purchase gifts for people back home, according to a survey. 

And more than half of Brits who bring back presents for loved ones or colleagues do so at the airport immediately before coming home.

Eighty-seven per cent of travellers said they bought a souvenir or present during their last trip abroad, the survey of 2,113 people by www.sunshine.co.uk reveals.

Last-minute spenders: Half of Brits leave it until the airport to buy gifts for people back home

Parents were most likely to be the recipients of a gift from overseas (67 per cent), followed by siblings (52 per cent), friends (41 per cent) and colleagues (38 per cent). 

Mums and dads were most likely to receive alcohol, while friends get joke gifts, work colleagues receive sweets, and siblings are given homeware gifts.

More than half (55%) of those who bought souvenirs or gifts for people on their last holiday abroad said the majority of these presents had been bought in the airport immediately before boarding their flight home. 

When asked what proportion of their spending money they had used to buy gifts and souvenirs for other people, the average answer stated by those taking part was 20 per cent.

Souvenirs: Siblings are most likely to be brought back homeware gifts

With the average respondent taking part taking £450 spending money, this would equate to each holidaymaker spending £90.00 on souvenirs and gifts alone. 

Chris Clarkson, Managing Director of sunshine.co.uk, said: 'Holidaymakers are very generous when it comes to buying souvenirs for people back at home, according to our survey. 

'Not so long ago, we heard that many people weren't bothering with buying gifts for people when on holiday and, if we're honest, we don't think it's necessary at all.

'People should use their spending money to have a good holiday, instead of wasting it on key rings or bottles of bubbly for people at home. 

'You only really need to buy someone a gift if they've done you some kind of favour whilst you were away, like looking after your plants, pets or kids! 

'If you do insist of buying presents, there's nothing wrong with a simple fridge magnet – there's really no need to spend all of your hard-earned and long-saved money on extravagant presents for everybody and his dog just because you've been lucky enough to get away for a week or so!'