Industry | 2010.02.26
Boom in long-haul as Brits look abroad
Britons ditch the \'staycation\' and head outside the eurozone to Egypt, Turkey and Latin America
The British appear to be ditching the 2009 travel phenomenon of the "staycation" – the holiday at home – for far-flung destinations including Egypt and Antarctica, according to travel operators.
With the first months of the year typically the busiest for summer holiday reservations, the travel industry association Abta has reported a 27% increase in bookings at the start of February compared with the same time last year, while TUI Travel, which owns Thomson, First Choice and luxury holiday provider Hayes & Jarvis, has increased the number of package deals it is offering in order to meet demand. At the end of last year, Thomas Cook reported healthy profits as early-bird travellers booked their summer 2010 trips.
Frances Tuke, a spokeswoman for Abta, which represents more than 1,000 travel agents and tour operators, said: "There\'s every indication so far that this year could be stronger than last year – things are clearly improving."
Money remains important, however, and holidaymakers are choosing distant destinations to escape the weakness of the pound in the eurozone. Egypt is currently topping the ranks at Lastminute.com, Thomson, First Choice and ResponsibleTravel.com as the most popular holiday destination for 2010.
Justin Francis, founder of ResponsibleTravel.com, which organises trips for eco-conscious travellers, said: "Experience for money is becoming just as important as value for money. Egypt offers a depth and range of iconic experiences at prices that countries in the eurozone struggle to match, given the weak pound."
Thomson and First Choice are opening new Egyptian resorts this year – Marsa Matruh, near Alexandria, and Aswan, on the east bank of the Nile. The Egyptian government has announced it expects to attract 14 million tourists in 2010, after a decline in 2009. Turkey and Morocco are also expected to draw British crowds this year and are both in the top five destinations at Lastminute.com and Thomson.
Tom Hall, Lonely Planet travel editor, said: "There\'s no denying you can save more money by going outside the eurozone. And then there\'s the thrill of discovering new places. Morocco, Egypt and, depending on where you go, Turkey, can feel a world away from more familiar destinations but are only four hours away, with radically different food, culture and language."
A spokeswoman for TUI Travel said: "Turkey proved a big hit with customers in 2009 as it offers great value for money, and with perfect weather and golden beaches, it will continue to be a popular choice in 2010. With some of the scenes of Sex and the City 2 filmed in Marrakech, we expect to see a lot of women looking to escape to Marrakech for \'me time\' and shopping."
Karla Brooks and her husband, who live in Wrexham, have been saving up to head to Turkey this summer after spending 2009 staycationing. "Money was quite tight last year, so we didn\'t go anywhere and we decided to save up instead to take a holiday this year. They say Turkey is cheap and really nice, somewhere where you can relax and sight-see but not be in a party town all the time. Last year, I only went to Glasgow for a few days as a short break."
Lisa Jackson is heading to the Moroccan coast to celebrate her 40th birthday with a friend. "Last year we went on a family holiday to Spain and we easily spent over £1,000 on accommodation and food. I decided I definitely didn\'t want to pay that much again to go somewhere that was such an ex-pat destination."
South Africa is expected to attract between 20,000 to 30,000 British football fans for the World Cup in June, while exotic holidays to Latin America, put on hold last year when swine flu hit the region, are also back in demand. Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Peru are all among the most popular holiday searches, according to online travel provider Expedia.
Cruises have made it into Trailfinders\' top five holidays list for the first time. A spokeswoman said: "It\'s not just your seven nights in the Caribbean, but more adventurous cruises such as the Arctic, Antarctic and Galapagos islands."
Spain is no longer the hotspot it once was: figures from the Spanish Tourism Institute revealed a 15% decline in the number of Britons who visited last year compared with 2008 and in a survey 59% of Brits said it was no longer "foreign enough" as a holiday attraction.
If Spain is not foreign enough, perhaps wartorn countries are. Sri Lanka, where 25 years of civil war finally ended last year, is in the top five most requested destinations at Kuoni while Abta\'s 2010 Travel Trends report suggests Iraq could be a holiday hotspot to watch.
Run to the sun
Sinai
Egypt is popular because of its combination of year-round hot weather, world-beating antiquities and value for money. The country has opened its first eco-resort, Basata, 45 miles south of the Israeli border, which offers a collection of 20 bamboo huts and adobe chalets scattered across the seashore and backed by mountains, starting from£14pp a night.
Istanbul
Liverpool was enjoying the afterglow of its year in the spotlight as 2008 European capital of culture. This year it is the turn of Istanbul and according to travel writer Jan Morris, no city is more deserving of the accolade. It is outside the eurozone, so still represents a budget break.
Morocco
One miserable camping experience can turn a person off the great outdoors for life, so why not try the new Mazagan resort, just south of Casablanca. "It ticks all the right boxes – a luxury holiday with family-friendly facilities in an exotic and unspoilt destination," says Debi Green, director of babygoes2.com.
Croatia
If you\'re after a festival, Soundwave has all the quirks of the Isle of Wight\'s season-ender but in a far more beautiful and sunny setting. A fishing village on the Dalmatian coast, inland amphitheatre for the bands, beachside terrace for the DJs and Europe\'s best party boat make this one for sun lovers.
Andy Pietrasik
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/[...]-summer-holidays-longhaul-boom
