INSIDE: Seven-Page Cruise Special Pages 21-27


ISSUE 290 | FEBRUARY 2018 Break to Jersey A Weekend WIN See page 30 for details...


Confidence after strong start to 2018 to the end of January.


P TO half a million Northern Ireland holidaymakers are now reckoned to have booked their next holiday. According to ATOL, the UK’s air holiday financial protection scheme. Almost 365,000 local holidaymakers had already booked their next holiday by the end of the first week of January. ATOL’s research reveals that 2018 is set to be the year of the package holiday revival. Over half (62 per cent) of Northern Ireland sun-seekers have booked, or are considering booking, package holidays this year, citing convenience and ease of budgeting as the main reasons for choosing this type of break over a DIY trip. By comparison in 2017 (52 per cent) of those in Northern Ireland booked package holidays. Another key benefit of the package holiday is ATOL protection, something that over 22 million holidaymakers consider a top priority when planning a holiday abroad. ATOL protection ensures holidaymakers are protected should the worst happen, and their travel company fail.


U


Commenting on the booking boom Peter McMinn from Travel Solutions, said: “2018 sales have started extremely well with year on year increases across all product ranges. There is no doubt that the public are looking for great value, and it is clear that once they find the right holiday to meet their needs and budget they are prepared to commit now. The first Friday in January saw our biggest sales day ever, and we expect to see another spike in bookings as we come


By KIRSTY JOHNSTON


“We continue to increase the number of ski holidays on offer to the Balkans with full flights operating from Belfast and increasing numbers flying from Dublin. Sales have been impressive and this season will see record numbers travelling. We are only a few weeks into the season and we are already getting calls from those who want to book for next winter.” Reviewing sales to date, Claire Mulligan of Clubworld Travel said: We have had a brilliant January with holidays flying out the doors! Las Vegas and New York have been among our top selling destinations, but America in general has been selling really well. There’s been some really good value to be had, especially on cruises, as we have some great all-inclusive cruise deals. “Virgin and British Airways have had seat sales and we have sold an unbelievable amount, while the direct Virgin flights from Belfast to Orlando mean that we have sold loads of family holidays to there as well so far.” Scott Parker of Feherty Travel said that this January was probably the busiest he had seen for some time. He said: “It has been a really busy January, probably the busiest I’ve seen in three years.


“The biggest difference I saw this year was that normally the first week is slow and then it picks up in the second


Continued on Page 2


PACKAGE HOLIDAYS MAKE A COMEBACK


SHOW STARTER! TV presenter Anthea Turner, who officially opened this year’s Holiday World Show at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, with Brian Ogle and Jonathan Adair of Northern Ireland Travel News. Also included is show organiser Maureen Ledwith (More Exhibition pictures pages 28 and 29)


Spending money will go further in USA


AFTER a disappointing 2017, the USA is bouncing back as a holiday destination for UK and Irish travellers for 2018. Sterling is worth around 1.420 US Dollars at time of going to Press, compared to just 1.21 a few months ago, so holidaymakers will be getting a lot more spending money on their holiday breaks when they book top tourist spots like New York, Florida and Las Vegas. Even just a month or so ago, on January


1, 2018, a pound sterling could only buy 1.3515 USD.


The pound's comeback to near pre- Brexit levels against the Dollar has been credited to a combination of a renewed optimism over Brexit and the currency markets turning sour on the Dollar. And it will be good news for tour operators with the US on their programme for 2018 - last year weak sterling exchange and the Trump factor made it a disappointing


year for the American market.


Currently the Pound is the best performing G10 currency in the last half of the year, having now risen 7.3 per cent against the Dollar.


To sum up, sterling has been boosted by a combination of broad dollar weakness and optimism that Britain will reach a favourable divorce deal with the EU and that the economy will continue to grow at a healthy rate.

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36