60 FEATURE
uk summer/autumn breaks
IT’S GREAT AT HOME
It’s been a heady summer for those involved in domestic tourism, with high-profi le events, new attractions across the country and even days of unbroken sunshine, says Dave Richardson
autumn when city and theatre breaks and seasonal tours become the main focus. But there is still plenty of time to sell summer, with some operators offering agent incentives that run until the end of August. The lingering whiff of
A
recession means many families are still playing safe and staying in the UK for their holidays, while the furore over passport applications and renewals that erupted in June has also given UK holidays a timely boost. And with waits of
several weeks for
fter a summer of major sporting events which are expected to boost visitor numbers, the UK is looking ahead to the
passports to be processed putting many people off looking abroad, tourism minister Helen Grant wasted no time in talking up the UK. The biggest events this summer include the
Tour de France cycling race UK dates, with three stages from Yorkshire to London in early July which provided a massive showcase for cities like York and Harrogate and some of the county’s wonderfully wild landscapes, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July 23-August 3). Similarly, Scotland is also looking ahead
to hosting the Ryder Cup golf tournament at Gleneagles from September 23-28, while its Homecoming Scotland celebrations for exiled Scots run throughout the year. VisitEngland says that while it does expect holidays abroad to grow strongly in line with the improving economy, holidays in England are running 13% ahead of pre-recession fi gures (while holidays abroad have yet to return to the level experienced in 2008). VisitEngland’s Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign, featuring cartoon characters Wallace
www.sellinglonghaul.com
and Gromit, returns for a third year with an even stronger focus on the trade than before. There are plenty of commission-earning opportunities from major UK operators including Bourne Leisure, Hoseasons, Cottages4u, Superbreak, Shearings and Grand UK Holidays, and from the many bed banks also selling through the trade. The variety and range of tours and experiences
on offer increase every year, with Grand UK offering 30 new tours in the UK and Ireland this year. Superbreak added 160 hotels to its 2014-15 programme, to make a total of 695, the majority being in the UK. And whatever the weather, there’s always something new to look at in every corner of the UK. Just one example of many is the King Richard III Visitor Centre: Dynasty, Death and Discovery in Leicester, which opened on July 26.
What’s new Promotions: Bourne Leisure’s (
BourneLeisureSales.co.uk) revamped trade website includes downloadable selling tools, incentives and competitions. A £5 Love2Shop voucher is offered for every minimum three-night booking at Butlins, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels until the end of August. New London shows on offer from Superbreak (
superbreak.com/agents) include Made in Dagenham
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