p2 Contents Jan29 27/1/10 21:09 Page 2
January sales offer
ray of sunshine in
news
the economic storm
AS WELCOME as the news of an official end to the
recession is, it is difficult to throw a party around a
figure of 0.1% growth.
Such a sliver of growth is hardly enough to draw
a line under an economic disaster that the younger
generation will be relating as their “you think it’s
tough now” speech for many years to come.
But the fact remains that for six quarters our
this week
economy shrunk and then last quarter the decline
turned into growth, even if that growth is negligible.
The shape of the recovery has been variously
predicted to be a V, W, U or L – and 0.1% suggests it’s
not going to be a line headed straight for the stars.
VAT is back at 17.5%, national insurance and
income tax will rise in April, and in May a new
government will start to tackle a national debt of
mind-boggling proportions.
The proportions may be unprecedented but in
3,000-mile Asia ride to raise £15k
essence it’s a return to good old-fashioned boom Holiday Cottages Group director Simon Law is to cross Asia on a motorbike.
and bust. A decade ago the prime minister claimed The 3,000 mile, five-week motorbike trip will start in Bangkok and cross
he was going to eliminate such things and there Thailand, MyanMar, Laos and Cambodia. Law hopes to raise £15,000 for
were some people around who believed him. Severn Hospice in Shrewsbury and child poverty charity Christel House
Those beliefs, or illusions as they turned out to be,
now lie shattered amid a spectacular bust. Trading figures. Cimtig seminar.
In the middle of the bust it can seem there’s little Signs of recovery p4 Past their sell-by date? p9
to be positive about. But a season full of The three main agents’ consortia The decline in the number of
harsh economic weather can bring innovation and have reported sales up 20% at travel agents over the past decade
invention; the fit will survive and adjust and be different times over the past two has been drastically exaggerated,
ready to reap the rewards when the good times roll months, amid tentative signs of according to Advantage chief
once more. a recovery on the high street executive John McEwan
No one is saying those good times have arrived,
heralded by a wimpish 0.1% growth. Bed banks. Weddings.
But there are tougher figures emerging from the Apartments Abroad failure p5 Ex-Cook rep starts firm p10
coalface of the industry this week. The collapse of Apartments A former Cook employee is
Sales are up 20% at different times Abroad collapse is being seen as tempting agents to register on
in different consortia. One retail chain another step in the consolidation his new wedding packaging
reports its biggest ever trading day. of the increasingly competitive website by offering the chance
Another says sales are close to bed bank market to win a case of wine
2008 levels.
There’s a long way to go, and Cruise. City & finance.
justified fears that an election and Epic in the Med for 2011 p6 All Leisure profits fall p14
tax rises could turn recovery NCL is to operate its latest ship in All Leisure Group expects to be
back to recession. the Mediterranean in summer debt free by May this year by
But even with those fears 2011, offering departures from exploiting increasing demand for
there is now hard evidence Palma as well as the vessel’s base destination-led cruises, despite
that the storm may be at Barcelona a 67% fall in pre-tax profits
subsiding and the sunshine
breaking through. Roadshows. REGULARS.
Algarve to bring Brits back p7 City p14
Chris Gray
The Algarve Tourism Board will Comment p16
News Editor
hold regional agent roadshows in Cruise p18
a bid to reverse the slump in UK Operators p20
visitors in 2009 Letters p24
02 29.01.2010
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