NEWS Rhodes
Autumn travel demand set to exceed pre-pandemic levels
Travel Weekly reporters
Customers continue to defy cost- of-living pressures as the autumn market looks set to exceed pre-pandemic levels, with buoyant bookings for the October half-term and winter-sun escapes, skiing trips and early 2024 sales. A recent study by the Civil
“We are seeing the shoulder STORY TOP
Aviation Authority’s Atol division found more than four in 10 UK consumers are likely to book an overseas trip before Christmas. The Advantage Travel Partnership
reported that 32% of all its forward bookings are due to depart in October and November, with average booking values up 10% year on year. Chief commercial officer Kelly
Cookes said: “Customers want to take advantage of the unseasonal warm weather across the Med.
travelweekly.co.uk
season extended in some traditional summer destinations.” Ski Solutions’ forward bookings for this winter are 13% up on 2022, with December 96% sold against its forecast. Chief executive
Craig Burton said: “For
earlier-season departures, we have seen a more pronounced
bias towards higher-altitude and
snow-sure Alpine resorts as well as our Norwegian resorts.” Travel Counsellors’ forward
bookings are more than 20% up on last year and “significantly” above pre-pandemic levels. Global sales director Jim
Eastwood said: “Looking ahead to winter, customers are enquiring for New York, Dubai, Mauritius, Barbados and southeast Asia. Our outlook remains optimistic.”
Spires Travel owner Paul Knapper
said autumn/winter bookings at his Worcester agency had risen by 25% compared with last year, when the company had a record 12 months. “The most popular season is next
summer, but about 25%-30% of our bookings are for this winter,” he said. Dawson & Sanderson managing
director Annelene Hutton said: “The autumn and winter lates market is looking healthy, with strong demand. “There is positive demand for
the family holiday market with the approaching October half-term.” The buoyant market is reflected
in consumer research. A Travel Counsellors poll of
2,000 Brits found that 45% said holidays were their top spending priority over the next year; 76% plan to spend at least as much on travel in 2024 as they have in the past 12 months; and 75% plan an
overseas trip in the next six months. Mintel’s British Lifestyles
report indicated that the holiday market is set to exceed pre-Covid values, with 2023 spending up 13% year on year to £63 billion. Airlines reported contrasting
views on demand. Ryanair chief executive
Michael O’Leary warned of a dip in consumer confidence, saying: “We expect to have to stimulate demand [this winter].” But easyJet chief executive
Johan Lundgren last week hailed a “record financial performance” and “best-ever” summer, adding: “You always need to stimulate pricing in winter outside the peaks. This winter won’t be different. The indications are demand remains strong. “Booking patterns have moved
back to what they were in 2019.” i Business, page 46
19 OCTOBER 2023 5
PICTURE: Shutterstock/ecstk22
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 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
