p4-6 market_focus 21/9/09 13:52 Page 4
Weddings & Honeymoons market focus
Market
analysis
The honeymoon is definitely not over for this sector,
with as many as one in six marriages now taking place
overseas. This represents a real opportunity for agents
to offer their services. April Hutchinson reports
I
f there is a recession-proof ray of light thing to go. Couples are happy to forgo their
for the travel industry, it may well be personal holidays either side of the
weddings and honeymoons. As couples honeymoon to secure this one-off event.”
look to save money on costly UK According to Condé Nast’s Brides magazine,
weddings, this is the one type of holiday couples spend an average of £22,858 on their
that seems more popular in a downturn. wedding (up from £21,901 in 2007). In
Official figures show the number of mar- London and the south-east, the average is an
riages in the UK is lower than it has been for eye-watering £23,932.
more than a century, but for those Brits still Planet Holidays managing director Mathilde
taking the plunge, Mintel research has found Robert says: “More people are getting married
that more are choosing to do it overseas. abroad. We have increased our bookings from
Mintel estimates that 16% of the 320,000 60 in 2007 to 212 for 2009, and 2010 looks to
British couples who got married last year did be a bumper year.”
so abroad. The total of 51,300 was a 43% Last year’s Mintel report predicted that
increase on 2003. these “bikini weddings” would account for
Tropical Locations general sales manager 18% of the market in five years’ time, with
Marie-Helene Rodriguez says: “We have seen the market currently worth £333 million.
a marked increase in wedding and honey- Cosmos Dream Weddings product manager
moon enquiries over the past 12 months. Alison Pritchard says: “Getting married over-
Many couples have been planning their big seas is a much more affordable option, espe-
day abroad and are loth to change their plans cially in this time of recession. Our figures for
due to the recession – it really is the last 2009 weddings overseas are more or less on a
par with 2008. With couples generally book-
ing a year in advance, it may well be that we
will see an even steeper rise for 2010.”
Honeymoon plans of 300 British newlyweds Historically, overseas weddings were seen
as being for older couples or second-timers
who didn’t want a “white wedding in a
church”.
Peter Jackson, managing director of Elite
Vacations, says: “It wasn’t so much to save
costs, but something different and a way of
avoiding the hassle of a wedding in the UK.
25% 21% 20% 17% 11% 6% Now a great deal more younger couples marry
Beach and Multi Beach Exotic City Adventure overseas, partly to save money. But a growing
city break
destination holiday (eg Thailand,
break
holiday
(eg safari & beach) Seychelles, Maldives)
number are taking family and friends.”
But Fanoulla Spyrou, weddings executive
Source: Research carried out by Hotels.com on Wedding Ideas readers in May/June 2009 for Cyprus and Greece specialist Olympic
Holidays, adds a cautionary note. “We have
4
TTG Knowledge – September 2009
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