FAMILY HOLIDAYS
LONG HAUL HOLIDAYS FAMILY FORTUNES
From Namibia to New
Zealand, far-from-home escapes are rich in
experiences and cultural adventures for families and well worth the
longer fl ight times, says Ben Lerwill
L
ong-haul family holidays tend to involve higher costs and, of course, longer journeys than breaks closer
to home, but in most cases they provide memories that can’t be matched elsewhere. Reliable sunshine is far from being the
only reason why families make the effort to cross continents: the sense of cultural adventure provided by somewhere like Asia and Australia can be priceless, as can the far- from-home escapes offered by the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean. And even in an era of recession, the family
Clockwide from top: Fun in the sand with Lux Resorts; Making cakes is
often a popular pastime in kids’ clubs; Heading for the ocean with Centara Grand in Mauritius
market is proving robust. “It’s partly to do with the product,” says Debbie Goffi n, Head of Sales and Marketing at Premier Holidays. “Somewhere like Thailand is far, far better set up for families than it was even fi ve years ago. There’s more choice worldwide than ever before. We’re seeing general growth and, for agents, it’s a very lucrative market.” Gill Standeven, Worldwide Product Manager at Virgin Holidays, is similarly upbeat.
“We’re seeing a general lift in long-haul family business to places such as the Far East and, in particular, the Indian Ocean. There’s double-digit growth in a lot of properties. Somewhere like The Maldives has traditionally been seen as a honeymoon destination, but now there are resorts like Bandos Island and the Centara Grand specifi cally geared at families.” And what do travelling UK families tend to
look for from a break? “All-inclusive resorts work well for many clients, of course, because from a budget perspective they know what they’ve paid before they go away,” continues Standeven. “So value for money is always important, but families with older children are also looking for experiential holidays. Parents are keen to give their kids an educational experience.” Destinations offering well-priced packages will always draw families. “Customers are having to watch their pennies, so a lot of hotels worldwide are
44 May 2013
www.sellinglonghaul.com
LUX RESORTS
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