ISSUE 321 | JANUARY 2022
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Northern Ireland’s travel trade shows promising signs heading into 2022 with an increase in bookings, customer satisfaction and tourism boost. Northern Ireland Travel News spoke with local operators, travel agents and hoteliers to find out what 2022 will bring for the industry...
By Sarah Pickering T
HE travel trade has been one of the hardest hit industries across the globe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdown after lockdown, furlough,
and restrictions have all became major setbacks in the time when the world stood still. Unfortunately, the industry said goodbye to many friends, colleagues and establishments during this time, showcasing the harsh reality the past two years have had to those within it- not mentioning the mental impact the pandemic had on many outside of work.
Despite this, 2022 will be the year the travel industry bites back as numbers, bookings and colleagues are on the up throughout, not only the province, but the world. Northern Ireland Travel News spoke to our local operators, hoteliers and travel agents to find out just what might 2022 have in store.
“Booking demand for 2022 has been very positive,
even the first quarter was forecasting strong before the Omicron variant took hold and unfortunately altered customer’s plans.” Said Bridgene McKeever, the Marketing Director at McKeever Hotel Group. “We are optimistic that once restrictions are lifted and we approach Spring/Summer it will be a very positive year. There is an appetite to travel and we are ready to welcome visitors with open arms.” Hotels have been hit with a host of restrictions throughout the entirety of the pandemic, ranging from the closure of licensed premises, to the requirement to check vaccine passports.
The Holiday Ninja is also ready to grab 2022 by the horns :“Exciting times ahead – even in the early stages of the year there has been an increase in general enquiries for holidays abroad, especially those “bucket list” breaks. I cannot wait to get away myself!” The Ninja is just back from a cool few days in Toronto Canada (catch the full
review on pages 34-35). The boom for the Ninja and travel agents alike is one that is most welcomed with customers trusting in agents now more than ever. The ability to trust and relax when booking a holiday during the pandemic is a very welcomed one.
Sandra Corkin of Oasis Travel also reiterated the significant boost travel has had at the beginning of this new year. “We have a solid start to 2022 as we feel more confident that those holidays that customers moved from 2020 to 2021 and then on to 2022 will take place. Most people not having had a holiday for two years are really looking forward with optimism to summer 2022.”
We also spoke with the managing director of local tour operator Travel Solutions to hear their verdict on travel and beyond moving into 2022. “ Like many other travel companies, Travel Solutions enters 2022 with positivity and with our largest programme since we started selling great value holidays twenty five years ago.” Said Managing Director Peter McMinn. “ We already see the increase in customer enquiries since returning from the Christmas and New Year break and we have introduced a number of holiday offers, with low deposits, to encourage new bookings.” Travel Solutions have made their mark on the pandemic years with a multitude of new offers from local airport City of Derry
The promising signs are there and travel is here to stay. The Northern Ireland Executive recently announced the scrapping of pre-departure testing before arrival, alongside England and Ireland, which deterred many travellers in 2020 and 2021 due to the high pricing on these tests; This opens Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK to tourists and further travel throughout the British Isles which will help boost the economy and boost the travel trade industry. The continous strength and determination of the travel trade has kept this industry above water and therefore the only way is up from travel in 2022.
Here’s to 2022! Above:
Beaches fill once again with holiday-hungry tourists seeking their next getaway after two years of staying at home. Holidays are now!
COMPLIMENTARY
See Page 40 to enter...
BETTER DAYS ARE COMING: TRAVEL TRADE WELCOME THE START OF 2022
CRUISE NEWS SPECIAL: Check out all the latest cruise news along with a two page feature on Harmony of the Seas AND two exclusive interviews with top cruise experts. INSIDE (16-page supplement)
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