INDUSTRY COMMENT
RICHARD WIMMS Managing Director Vacations to America "It's always a good time to
sell Florida but the exchange rate is particularly favourable at the moment. We've experienced an increase in demand for named villas in Florida and have added many more in Orlando and Kissimmee." See Florida feature, page 25
LAURA RENDELL-DUNN Product Manager Journey Latin America "Sales to Brazil remain strong
as it is a country with huge appeal to a variety of travellers. Prices are rising but the cost of a holiday remains good value for money. For example, a 15-day holiday for two taking in Brazil's highlights starts from £3,329, including flights, mid-range hotels, transfers, excursions and breakfast." See Brazil feature, page 65
NANDITA PATEL Far East Product Manager Funway Holidays "We have seen healthy
forward sales for Indochina. The destination has been greatly enhanced by Vietnam Airlines' new direct flights from Gatwick to Saigon and Ho Chi Minh City, along with easy connecting services to other fascinating destinations in the region like Luang Prabang, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh." See Indochina feature, page 21
welcome I
TO SELLING LONG HAUL
s there any way of staunching the flow of ever-heftier aviation taxes? The latest increases in Air Passenger Duty, which came into effect on April 1 suggest – lamentably –
probably not. Despite fierce organised lobbying, particularly by the Caribbean nations who have as much to lose as any destination each time the cost of flying goes up, the government pushed ahead with the higher APD rates. At 8%, the rise was double
STEVE HARTRIDGE EDITOR
the current rate of inflation, and there’s more to come in April 2013 when the industry will have to brace itself for an additional ‘inflation-linked’ rise. Another country firmly in
the APD firing line is Brazil. As we report in our feature, starting on page 65, Brazil is gearing up for its time in the spotlight in 2014 (World Cup) and Olympics (2016). Brazil is a fabulous destination and our feature tells you why, but the golden tourism goose may never get to deliver its expected bounty if APD and hotel rates in the country keep rising. The APD on flights to Brazil is now (April) £81 in Economy class and £162 in all other cabin classes (for Argentina, Paraguay and Chile it is even higher). South African hotels and lodges jacked up prices in 2010 for
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the World Cup and almost two years later many are still trying to recover. Brazil needs to avoid going down the same path. The government needs to give long haul travellers a break, but
so do some destinations and those products that are attractive to an international audience.
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