The weakening pound against the euro has given a boost to the all-inclusive holiday market and one leading tour operator is predicting a boom in sales as savvy Brits cash in on all-in packages to popular tourist destinations in Europe.
Sales of all-inclusive holidays – which cater for all the food, drink, snacks and entertainment needs of holidaymakers – at tour operator Jet2holidays.com have shown a spike in sales of 63 per cent year-on-year. In the last week alone, sales have increased by 37 per cent.
Since the start of 2007 the pound-euro exchange rate has fallen from a high on 22 January 2007 when one euro cost 65.4p, to a low on 11 April 2008 when it cost 80.1p – effectively meaning the cost of living in European resorts has risen by 22.5%*.
A recent survey, carried out by Halifax Travel Insurance, shows that one-third of all holidays booked by Brits are all-inclusive, suggesting that consumers are taking the safer resort-based holiday option.
Mandy Round, General Manager, at Jet2holidays.com, said: “With the value of the pound devaluing so much against the euro, savvy customers are opting for all-inclusive deals.
“Just like fixing a mortgage deal, taking an all-inclusive break means you can pretty much fix your holiday spending in the sun as everything in resort – from ice creams, food, drink and snacks – is taken care of.
“We are not of the opinion that the credit crunch and mortgage rate worries are going to stop consumers taking holidays abroad – they are just being more sensible about their choices.”
*Source: European Central Bank.