ABTA MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2015 OPTIMISM ABOUNDS
DON’T MISS SRI LANKA
ANCIENT KINGDOMS PLUS
Exploring the Central Highlands from Anuradhapura to Sirigiya
Galle city break Top 10 sights 48 hours in Colombo Where to stay
FEBRUARY 2015
ABTA GUIDE Don’t miss our guide to Sri Lanka with your February issue.
ONLINE For destination info and
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ABTA ENEWSLETTER To receive the ABTA eNewsletter,
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co.uk. To view this issue online, visit
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It’s fair to stay that 2015 has got off to a cracking start: a tumbling euro, cheaper destinations, early bookings up and Air Passenger Duty down (p30) — the good news keeps coming. While it’s too early to know who’ll be the big
winners this year, we’re not adverse to educated guesswork, and in our analysis we pick out the places we think will shine in 2015, while having a last glance at the past 12 months (p26). Our special report, meanwhile, is on adventure travel, a sector
with an ever widening remit and broadening customer base (p32). Finally, for all things travel, check out
CountryByCountry.com.
Glen Mutel, Editor IN YOUR FEBRUARY ISSUE
30 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ Telephone: 020 3117 0500 Information Bureau: 0845 177 2282
www.abta.com
Chairman: Noel Josephides Chief Executive: Mark Tanzer Media Relations Manager: Sean Tipton
6 Best of CbyC The magic of the Mezquita
9 ABTA update Including ABTA’s Earlybird campaign and the latest on airport capacity
14 This season Featuring Kuoni’s big tour op sell-off and Virgin Hotels’ fi rst property
22 Competition Win a night at the opera for two
25 Company profi le Fred.\ Holidays’ expands with the launch of Fred.\ Expeditions
ABTA Magazine is published on behalf of ABTA by APL Media Limited. Editorial Director: Maria Pieri Editor: Glen Mutel Associate Editor: Jo Gardner Contributors: Halima Ali, Sarah Barrell, Stephanie Cavagnaro, Chris Peacock, Josephine Price, Seamus McDermott, Pat Riddell, Helen Warwick Editorial Assistant: Tamsin Wressell Sub Editors: Brian Richards, Joanna Reeves, Chris Horton, Lorraine Griffiths Group Art Editor: Chris Hudson Lead Designer: Daniel Almeroth
countrybycountry.com
Designers: Lauren Atkinson-Smith, Nicki Smith, Lucy Grafton-Green Picture Researcher: Natalie Jackson Production Manager: Daniel Gregory Production Controllers: Joaquim Pereira, Lisa Poston, Joanne Roberts, Anthony Wright, Carl Lawrence Sales & Marketing Manager: Rebecca Fraser Media Sales Managers: Neil Bhullar, David Mitch, Mark Reynolds, Mark Salmon Head of Consumer: Danny Pegg Special Projects Consultant:
Matthew Midworth Business Development Manager, India: Sinead McManus MIddle East Consultant: Tania Kreindler Chief Executive: Anthony Leyens Managing Director: Matthew Jackson Acting Office Manager: Melissa Jurado Office Assistant: Taylah Brooke Financial Controller: Taurai Mangezi Credit Manager: Craig Chappell Credit Controllers: David Gopala, Jim Burns Billings and Revenue Controller: Sarah Robinson
26 Analysis: A year in travel Review of 2014, plus this year’s hotspots
30 Analysis: Air Passenger Duty What next for the unpopular tax?
32 Special report The rise of adventure travel
40 Reviews Hotels and transport
46 Travelogue Malmo and Sweden’s Skane region
50 Q&A Virgin Holidays’ Mark Anderson
APL Media, Unit 310, Highgate Studios, 53-79 Highgate Road, London NW5 1TL
aplmedia.co.uk Editorial T: 020 7253 9906 Email:
editorial@aplmedia.co.uk Sales/Admin T: 020 7253 9909 Sales/Admin F: 020 7253 9907 Email:
sales@aplmedia.co.uk
Printed in the UK. ABTA Magazine & Supplements are published by APL Media Limited. Their entire contents are protected by copyright 2015 and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without prior permission is forbidden. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of the magazine, but the publishers assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or ABTA. Readers are advised to seek professional advice before acting on any information which is contained in the magazine.
February 2015 ABTA Magazine 5
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