At the height of the pandemic the tour operators saw an understandable decrease in bookings for group travel, however over the last month the company have seen an interest in small group travel for next year grow. Since summer, enquiries for small group tours have risen by 85%.
Intrepid travel specialists Undiscovered Destinations, who offer small group and private tours around the world are starting to see an upturn in enquiries for group tours in 2021/22.
The pandemic and its associated restrictions have had a huge impact on the travel industry and social distancing measures means certain types of group travel are not possible.
As experts in small group travel Undiscovered Destinations have been fortunate in that they can still offer the small tours they specialise in, catering for groups with an average size of just six guests.
At the height of the pandemic the tour operators saw an understandable decrease in bookings for group travel, however over the last month the company have seen an interest in small group travel for next year grow. Since summer, enquiries for small group tours have risen by 85%.
Given the current guidance Undiscovered Destinations have been able to successfully run very small group travel options, which is something the team are already equipped and skilled in offering. They will be continuing to offer small group travel options into next year keeping in line with the ongoing local guidance at all times.
Aled Evans of Undiscovered Destinations says, “Before the pandemic we already catered to offering group tours for very small group sizes, and so have been fortunate to an extent in that we already know how to offer incredible group travel experiences for small numbers. Small group travel allows for a more intimate travel experience and more time to explore each location independently and have one-on-one time with the local guides learning about the places that specifically interest each individual.
We are excited to see an upturn in enquiries for small group tours in 2021 and we hope that by continuing to offer our expertise in this area in a safe and sensible manner, we can continue to offer the joy of group travel moving forward.”
The travel company have implemented some key safety measures on all of their tours to ensure the safety of their customers and team. The specific measures will be crafted for each tour on an individual basis depending on the location, group size and activities included, but for every tour all guides are fully briefed on the new protocols – including how to monitor for any symptoms of the virus, what to do should any guests become unwell, and how to ensure hygiene rules are followed. The team is ensuring that local guidelines from the authorities are followed closely in all areas which they travel to.
In addition to implementing safety protocols and offering small group travel, Undiscovered Destinations are also choosing to be extremely flexible with bookings allowing customers to easily rearrange any pre-existing bookings and providing a full refund where trips have been unable to run. Additionally, the itineraries en-route have also been adapted to be more flexible than ever with modifications being made locally to avoid large crowds or follow any other safety cautions.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
