First Class Holidays adds South Africa for 2020-21


Juliet Dennis juliet.dennis@travelweekly.co.uk


First Class Holidays is to offer outh ri or the first time for 2020-21 and has unveiled a ‘wildside’ trip in Canada omnie  eerit mssor ont s.


The new destination follows the


operator’s decision to guarantee all prices for 2020 in response to demand. First Class Holidays made a similar pledge in April last year. It hopes conversions will increase as agents can give clients “certainty” that the price of their holiday won’t rise. Managing director Dan


Gathercole said South Africa had been “on the cards” since he joined a year ago. The operator will produce a standalone South Africa brochure for 2020-21, also featuring Mauritius and the Seychelles, around May. First Class Holidays is likely to


Nicaragua returns to Journey Latin America tours as FCO lifts ban


Journey Latin America is reintroducing holidays and escorted group tours to Nicaragua after the UK’s travel ban to the central American country was lifted. The Foreign Office lifted the


ban on all but essential travel on February 8. It had been in place since April 2018 because of unrest and street violence. Head of product Stuart Whittington said: “Nicaragua’s landscape of lakes and volcanoes, lush rainforest and palm-fringed


MONTY HALLS: Marine biologist will join his first tour in Canada


expand into other destinations in southern Africa in the longer term. The operator has created


a dedicated South Africa reservations role as part of a newly created team for the destination. First Class Holidays has also announced details of its first tour with marine biologist and wildlife expert Monty Halls, a brand ambassador since October. The


beaches makes it a nature lover’s paradise. A return to tourism is a positive step and will bring much-needed respite for the local economy.” The operator is reviewing


its product range and services in Nicaragua, including hotels, transfers, car hire and excursions. It will relaunch its 10-day Signature Nicaragua: Fire, Water and Revolution holiday, which leads in at £2,692. The tour visits Spanish colonial cities Granada and León; Ometepe Island, with its twin volcanoes; Rio San Juan; and the fortress of El Castillo. From May, the operator


will include the destination in three escorted group tours, Alción:


22travelweekly.co.uk21 February 2019


“I want us to be exceptional on quotes, after-sales and ticketing”


11-day Take a Walk on the Wildside with Monty Halls tour in Canada costs from £9,999. The trip includes the chance


to see grizzly and polar bears, and hear daily wildlife talks from Halls on conservation, his travel experiences and photography tips. The operator is recruiting for


two other new roles: head of its travel concierge department, and a customer service and travel concierge after-sales position. Gathercole said the aim was


to improve customer service and meet all demands, including out-of-the-ordinary requests. He said: “I want us to be exceptional on


quotes, after-sales and ticketing.” fcholidays.com


NEWS IN BRIEF


Citalia creates 3D-style map to plan Ancient Italian trips


Citalia has created an interactive online map showing ancient sites with 3D-style imagery to help plan road trips. Highlights of the Ultimate Ancient Italian Road Trip include Verona Arena, the theatre at Faesulae and the ancient town of Herculaneum, destroyed in the eruption of volcano Mount Vesuvius. citalia.com


Balkan Holidays adds three new ski hotels in Bulgaria


Balkan Holidays has added three Bulgarian hotels to its winter 2019-20 brochure for ski holidays in Bulgaria, Slovenia and Romania. Packages are priced from £299, with deposits from £70 for a limited time. Early-booking discounts are available. balkanholidays.co.uk


BSpoke peddles new cycling tours in Portugal and France


BSpoke Tours has introduced new cycling tours of Portugal and France after reporting a 10% increase in demand for short breaks. They include a three-night Mont Ventoux cycling weekend from £799; a four-night Bordeaux city break from £1,055; and four-night self- guided tour of the Algarve coast from £735, all including flights, accommodation and bike hire. bspoketours.com


Acacia Africa offers value plus discounts for clients


NATURE LOVER’S PARADISE: Beach in San Juan del Sur


Central America Discovery; Tropicbird: Highlights of Central America; and Cotinga: Off the


Beaten Track Nicaragua. journeylatinamerica.co.uk


Acacia Africa is allowing agents to combine any two of its new ‘value plus discounts’ as part of a revamped customer loyalty scheme. They can be combined when booking camping and accommodated overland tours and selected small-group safaris. Its 20-day Kruger to Cape Town overland tour now costs £1,100, a saving of £275. acacia-africa.com


SHUTTERSTOCK


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