p10 news apr3 1/4/09 17:17 Page 10
news conference report
ttglive.com
Best of Britain & Ireland
Travel Trade Forum ■ March 26-27 ■ ExCeL, London
Govt accused of failing
CITY BREAKS.
Weekenders opt to stay
on home soil this Easter
to market 2012 Olympics
THE MOST popular city-break destination for
Brits this Easter weekend is London, according to
online search specialist Trivago.co.uk.
March enquiries for London beat Paris, Rome,
Rupert Murray.
and Barcelona, in that order, even though it was
TOURISM minister Barbara the second-most expensive destination, with an
Follett was forced to defend average hotel price of £119 a room – just £1 be-
the government’s invest- hind Paris.
ment in marketing the UK Elsewhere in Europe, travellers are also
abroad after claiming the planning to take domestic breaks. The top
industry would be vital in destinations are Rome for the Italians, Berlin for
pulling the country out of the Germans and Paris for the French.
recession.
Speaking at the Best of
Britain & Ireland Travel
ANIMAL-FRIENDLY.
Trade Forum in London last Liberal Democrat MPs stage a demonstration outside Number 10 to urge Gordon
week, Follett said tourism Brown to do more to encourage Britons and foreigners to take holidays in the UK
Domestic breaks
was “vital for the economy”.
She urged the industry to make the most of in a generation” opportunity to market Britain have pets appeal
the weak pound and reduced VAT, which made overseas but claimed “not one extra penny has
the UK a cheaper destination. been put aside” for marketing. AGENTS looking to sell domestic holidays should
“Tourism could be the difference between a Foster added: “The question is whether or not be using customers’ pets as part of their sales
long and short recession,” Follett added. we grab the incredible opportunity 2012 offers, patter, research has revealed.
But Conservative shadow tourism minister but there has been no commitment by the A survey of 1,000 pet owners found that 55%
Tobias Elwood and Liberal Democrat shadow government to provide additional resources.” had cancelled a break because of their pet, and
culture, media and sport secretary Don Foster Follett insisted that money was being spent to a fifth taken shorter holidays to avoid leaving
accused the government of failing to capitalise promote the UK abroad. animals alone for too long.
on the 2012 Olympics to market Britain abroad. The travel trade forum had 25% more visitors More than half admitted they couldn’t relax on
Elwood singled out the Olympics as a “once than 2008, with 2,500 people attending. holiday because they were constantly worrying,
and a fifth said a pet added £400 to the price of
the trip because of kennel fees.
MOTORHOME HOLIDAYS.
And those who do leave their pets at home
Downturn fuels campervan boom
spent up to £100 calling to check on them.
Welcome Cottages managing direc-
tor Geoff Cowley said agents
ENQUIRIES about second-hand caravans, VivaStreet chief executive Yannick Pons said: could cash in at a time
campervans and motorhomes have surged since “The economic climate means more people are when domestic breaks
the beginning of the year at the expense of looking to stay in the UK for their holidays.” are proving popular due
overseas holidays, according to UK classifieds Pons’ theory was backed up by motorhome to sterling’s weakness
website VivaStreet.co.uk. manufacturer Romahome, which said it had and the credit crunch.
It reported 155% more enquiries in the taken on extra staff to handle increased demand. He said: “The fact that
first quarter of 2009 compared with the same Campervan rental specialist Campervantastic people can take their pets
period in 2008. The rise came as a survey by said it was booked up until September. with them is yet another
VisitBritain found one in five Brits who holidayed Managing director Steve Lumley added: “We compelling reason to stay in
overseas last year were thinking of spending are definitely receiving interest from a lot of
chng
.x the UK – and agents can
their summer holidays this year in the UK. people who normally holiday abroad.” Stock take advantage of this.”
10 03.04.2009
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