Despite difficult times after 11 September 2001, the travel industry looks set to recover in 2002. Brits took over 20 million…
Despite difficult times after 11 September 2001, the travel industry looks set to recover in 2002. Brits took over 20 million package holidays in 2001 thanks to low prices, favourable exchange rates and a strong economy. If low interest rates are maintained this year and hostilities contained, the negative impact of the terrorist attacks on the holiday industry should be minimal.
Bookings in 2001 (after 11 September) for summer 2002 were dramatically down on the same period in the year before, but tour operators are offering excellent deals for those who book early in 2002.
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WORLD CUP – KOREA & JAPAN
England's breathless last minute qualification for the World Cup is bound to attract thousands of fans to the Far East in June. England's initial games will be played in Japan, a fascinating and beautiful country. Japan has traditionally had a reputation as an expensive destination but the economic problems it is experiencing have weakened the yen against sterling and it is cheaper now that it has been for a number of years. When England get past the first round they may well find themselves playing in Korea. Korea is not yet on the UK holiday trail but it's scenery, cuisine and intriguing cities already means it is a firm favourite with Asian holidaymakers and attracts over 4.5M visitors a year.
THE EURO
The frequent visitor to mainland Europe is set to benefit with the introduction of the euro. Prices across the countries will become more transparent and forecasters suggest that as a result prices will come down. Additionally, holidaymakers will not need to change currencies if they cross borders or when they come home to the UK, as they can keep change and notes for their next visit.
SPAIN
Spain is the number one destination for British holidaymakers taking a holiday (note: France would be number one in terms of total visitor numbers if day-trippers were included). Large numbers have also become timeshare property owners in Spain, guaranteeing a steady stream of visitors.
The Balearic islands of Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca compete with the Spanish Costas for business. The Canary Islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuertaventura – situated just off the North Western coast of Africa – are volcanic and have a sub-tropical dry and warm climate. This means that they are popular during summer and also busy during the winter months, particularly with senior citizens, many spending up to eight weeks there to avoid the cold weather back home. Spain also appeals to the "culture vulture" with the Moorish cities of Grenada, Seville and Cordoba in the South and Barcelona in the North being particularly popular.
FRANCE
France is still the number one destination for British day-trippers. Innovative incentives by the ferry companies have ensured that the customer is still well served with value and choice. Shopping is also a big draw, despite the loss of duty free within the EU in 1999. Research in 1998 showed that 24% of British visitors to France were travelling in order to shop, most of them as day trips (ONS Travel Trends 1999).
France is also the UK's favourite ski destination and Paris is the top European city break choice. A favourable exchange rate in recent years has ensured that numbers have steadily increased while the Channel Tunnel has made France even more accessible to British visitors.
IRISH REPUBLIC
Ireland offers a quiet and relaxed pace of life amongst friendly, hospitable people. The types of accommodation available are wide-ranging and the standard is high. In addition, access to the Republic through various ferry ports and airports is excellent. The city of Dublin is a favourite short break destination, featuring a rich history and diverse cultural attractions and is now the number one city-break destination for stag parties wanting to sample Ireland's "craic."
USA
In spite of the events of September 11 2001, the USA remains the number one long haul destination. A large number of the British who arrive each year are repeat visitors. With a country of its size and diversity many choose to return time and again. Florida tends to be the first choice for first-time British visitors, with New York, California and the New England states as favourites for those on subsequent visits. Each year sees an increasing number of U.S. destinations featured.
ITALY
Italy is a popular choice with skiers and for those looking for a lakes/mountains experience. From the majesty of the mountains to the tranquillity of the lakes, Italy is renowned for its cuisine, musical heritage and its extensive and reasonably-priced transport system makes it all accessible.
It is equally popular with those looking for a city break to Rome, Venice and Florence and many choose to holiday off the coast on the beautiful islands of Sardinia and Sicily. A number of 'no frills' airlines have also joined the scheduled and charter airlines serving Italy and so increased competition has resulted in wider choice and value for customers.
NETHERLANDS
In addition to the popularity of trips to see the famous bulbfields, the country is also sold as a great destination for a short holiday. Amsterdam, the Hague and Maastricht all feature in a number of British city break programmes. It can also be easily combined with a visit to its neighbour Belgium and the medieval cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.
GREECE
Greece is still a firm favourite with British summer package holidaymakers and the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Corfu and Kos are well-established destinations. The Cyclades, including the popular islands of Mykynos and Ios, and the Dodecanese, including Rhodes, are likely to be popular with those who enjoy island-hopping.
British visitor numbers in 2002 are expected to reach an all-time high, encouraged by a favourable exchange rate, rising accommodation standards and infrastructure improvements at some of its airports, notably Rhodes, Crete and Corfu. Athens has also benefited immensely from traffic restrictions and vastly improved infrastructure in preparation for the 2004 Olympics and is ideal for those wanting to experience the authentic Greek way of life and the most important antiquities in the Western world.
PORTUGAL
While Lisbon and Oporto have become popular city break destinations, Portugal's south coast is still very popular with summer holidaymakers and the Algarve is the most established tourist region, offering unspoilt Atlantic beaches and some of the finest golf courses in the world. Other popular resorts can be found along the Costa Verde, Costa de Prata and the Costa de Lisboa. For those looking to explore, Portugal offers a mix of fine beaches, reasonably priced and high quality cuisine, a large inland area (Planicies) where there are countless local festivals and the most southwesterly point of mainland Europe, Cape St Vincent.
TURKEY
Following the devaluation of the lira in 2001 Turkey offers good value for money, particularly for those self-catering. For most sun seekers, the Western Mediterranean coast, or Turquoise coast, is the preferred choice and Antalya has become an attractive resort with several fine beaches. On the Aegean coast, Izmir – Turkey's third city – and Bodrum are also popular resorts, while Kusadasi is a favourite with those looking for good beaches and a lively nightlife. Sailing on a budget is provided on the local yachts, gulets. Istanbul has also become a popular city break destination combining the best of east and west. Not known to many, Turkey has some of the best preserved classical ruins in the world with the magnificent Greek city of Ephesus leading the way.
CYPRUS
Cyprus remains popular as a winter and summer destination and Larnaca in the southeast of the island has become one of its main resorts. In the Famagusta district, which is fertile and where many of the vegetable crops are grown for export, there are several good hotels and apartments. Particularly popular are Ayia Napa for young clubbers and the beaches at Fig Tree Bay, Flamingo Bay and Protaras. The hill resort of Platres is likely to become a favourite for those looking for a relaxing time walking through the forests and mountain villages and the scenery in this area is spectacular.
CROATIA
Before the tragic civil wars in Yugoslavia the country attracted 500,000 visitors a year from the UK, mostly to the Dalmatian coast along what is now Croatia. Crystal clear sea, beautiful Italianate resorts, reflecting the areas Venetian past and extremely good value for money mean that this is an area ripe for rediscovery. The resorts of Dubrovnik, Split and Rovign are particularly popular as well as the hundreds of idyllic islands, ideal for sailing, dotted along the coast.
BRAZIL
Brazil has always had an exotic attraction with the Carnival in Rio and trips up the Amazon making it a once in a lifetime destination. In the last few years tour operators have begun to arrange charter flights and tour programmes to the North of the country, which contains some of the best infrastructure and beaches. These have sold very well and numbers looks set to boom in 2002.
THE CARIBBEAN
The Caribbean is extremely popular with those choosing a long haul summer or winter holiday. In addition to the established holiday hot spots of Jamaica, Barbados and Antigua, 2002 looks set to see a continuing increase in visitors to St Kitts and Nevis. Cuba is one of the latest destinations to be featured in this area with Havana set to regain its role as the party capital of the Caribbean. New resorts, extra flights and the redevelopment of Havana International Airport should ensure that its popularity as a holiday destination continues to increase. This is part of a general increase in popularity of the "Spanish" Caribbean whose cheaper prices without a significant reduction in standards, are attracting a new, more budget conscious traveller.
GENERAL TRAVEL TRENDS FOR 2002 AND BEYOND
CRUISING
Following a 10 per cent increase in numbers in 2000, cruising is set to further increase. Britain is now the second largest cruise market in the world, second only to the United States. The Caribbean and the Mediterranean are firm favourites for those flying to their holiday destination to join their cruise, fly-cruises to Scandinavia and Alaska look set to become increasingly popular. River cruising in Europe allowing the opportunity to travel from city to city and leisurely view the scenery, appeals to the more mature market. Many choose a two-centre holiday, combining a week on land with a week cruising and relaxing. September 11 has already discouraged many Americans from travelling abroad and this may well result in bargains for the UK market as cruise lines look to fill their berths.
LONG HAUL HOLIDAYS
ABTA/MORI research conducted in October 2000 asked "If money were no object, where would you like to visit on holiday?" An overwhelming 22 per cent responded with Australia and 11 per cent with the United States. Clearly long-haul travel is still the dream for many.
The number of long haul destinations on offer is increasing each year. The most popular is still Florida but numbers to Mexico have risen dramatically in recent years, reflecting the increased choice in charter flights, competitive prices and the British holidaymaker taking advantage of good value all-inclusive resorts.
The Far East is popular, not only with independent travellers, but also with those on inclusive tours. Thailand is a favourite with British holidaymakers, as are Malaysia, Singapore and, increasingly, Vietnam. India has a firm following and Kenya continues to attract those looking for a safari experience. South Africa is proving popular as a summer sun destination and the Emirates are attracting more visitors from Britain. Dubai has become a particular favourite for those looking for fine beaches and duty-free shopping.
A total eclipse on 4 December promises to be a big attraction for Australia and South Africa.
SHORT BREAKS
More than 3.3 million people took a short break in 2001 (a figure that has been increasing steadily since 1990) and an increase in numbers is predicted again for 2002. With a significant increase in the numbers of airlines who offer short-haul, non-flexible (but very cheap) flights to European cities, we are likely to see the continued growth of short breaks. Most of these trips will be in addition to longer summer or winter holidays.
Dublin, Paris, Amsterdam and Rome are among the most popular cities but increasingly destinations such as Warsaw, Prague and other Eastern European cities are finding favour. Long-haul short breaks are also popular, with New York, Boston and Toronto all featuring as easy getaways and shopping weekends.
WINTER HOLIDAYS
Snowsports play a vital part in the winter holiday market. Around 1.5 million people take a skiing holiday each year, many now opting to try snowboarding as well. The most popular destinations for skiing are France, Austria and Italy. Many people are choosing to travel further afield taking advantage of the strong pound and availability of charter flights, Canada and the United States have seen a massive rise in popularity over the past 10 years.
The winter-sun market centres on the Southern Hemisphere. Tenerife and the other Canary Islands are the short-haul choice, with the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico, Australia and South Africa all offering an affordable winter sun experience.
LOW-COST AIRLINES
The spectacular growth of the low-cost airlines in the last few years looks set to continue in 2002. They were one of the few sectors of the aviation industry to buck the trend following September 11 with most repeating an increase in numbers of up to 30% on 2000. With flights often being cheaper than a train ticket in the UK a weekend break in Europe has become a very enticing prospect rather than a luxury item. Cities such as Bologna and Naples in Italy, Copenhagen in Denmark, Zurich in Switzerland, Bordeaux and Lyon in France and Berlin in Germany are all on offer and the range is expanding.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
