expert ASK THE
“The UK provides an excellent opportunity for agents to
engage with their customers and inspire them to holiday at home. More than 60% of our customers in a recent survey said they wanted to take a UK break within the next
three months – government guidelines allowing – and were looking to do so through an Abta-approved agent. With the UK boasting more than 32 World Heritage Sites, 15 national parks and some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, agents can put their passion for travel behind the UK and drive
staycations as a replacement for customers’ next holidays. For places to visit other than Devon and Cornwall, look out for Norfolk, with its 90 miles of beaches, and the
Cotswolds, with its 140 lakes and wetlands – these places avoid the big crowds but still offer the beauty and charm of the idyllic countryside and coastline.” Diana Evans, managing director, Great Little Breaks
of touring, Coffey points to Luxury Gold’s British Royale trip, on which guests enjoy Michelin-starred dining and a front-row seat for the Tower of London’s Ceremony of the Keys, which usually sells out months in advance. Even if you don’t have to get on a plane to reach your destination, the UK and Ireland – and particularly their remote regions – still offer plenty of exotic appeal. Heather McKinlay, founder and director of Scottish specialist McKinlay Kidd, says: “Some of the remoter destinations in the UK and Ireland are very different and deliver the feel of a holiday escape. “On a sunny day, a beach in the Outer Hebrides can do a fantastic impression of the Caribbean, with white sand and turquoise waters. “These beaches are so vast, you will barely see another soul – social distancing is the norm! “Shetland, famous from the recent TV series, captivates with its wild, coastal landscapes that feel more Nordic than British, though of course everyone speaks English. “And in the west of Ireland, wildlife abounds in rural and coastal areas – eagles, otters, seals, badgers, pine martens and more. You can even go whale-watching off the west of Ireland and from the Isle of Mull in Scotland.”
22 21 MAY 2020
33Go big on displaying the UK – holidays closer to home will be in huge demand once it is deemed safe to travel again
BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS While you might already have a decent choice of local coach departures or family holiday parks, now is the time to learn about areas of the British Isles that you might not have sold before. Recent surveys have shown a spike in interest for remoter regions including the Scottish highlands and the Channel Islands, which recently came to attention for the 75th anniversary of their liberation from German occupation (page 25). “The Channel Islands are the staycation with
a difference,” says Lydia Smith, marketing and development manager for C I Travel Group, owner of island specialist Airways Holidays. “Closer to home than many overseas destinations but still miles away; a French feel while on British soil. Travel time is minimal but you
travelweekly.co.uk
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
