Holiday Trends For 2011
Travel professionals gathered recently for their annual conference - this year held
in Malta - to discuss the last year and what 2011 might have in store.And there was a lot to discuss as travel agents peered into their crystal balls to foresee what the year ahead might hold, and what trends are emerging after two years of recession.
Predicting the future is difficult in any business, but for the holiday industry it's even more perilous - after all, who would have guessed a year ago that European airspace would close due to a volcano in Iceland?
One trend observed by the travel agency world was that the number of people taking package holidays this year had risen - as families tried to retain taking overseas trips within their recession hit household budgets - and that this trend was likely to continue and perhaps increase in 2011.
Package holidays were popular in the seventies when tour operators bundled together different parts of a trip to offer a complete service, and has become popular again now during the recession as the tour operators buying power brings the overall price down.
Taking Malta as an example, it would include the return flights to the island, car hire if wanted, and one of the Malta hotels. The price would depend on which of the hotels in Malta was chosen, but taken together as a package it would work out cheaper than if booked seperately, especially as the tour operators have reduced prices agreed at the beginning of each year.
All inclusive is another phrase that came up often at the ABTA conference - this where not just the flights and hotel are included, but food and drink too. Half board being breakfast and dinner, full board to include lunch, and often locally produced alcoholic beverages are in the overall price as well.
With the economies of Europe and the U.S. still in recovery mode, package and all inclusive holidays have increased in popularity for families jittery about their financial futures, who want to still go on holiday but want to cut the costs - both options have become an increasing trend for those taking holidays in Malta and elsewhere this year and could be even more prevalent in 2011.
Another subject that was discussed and hit the news shortly after the conference was what is known as ADT, and more commonly known to the passengers who have to pay it as Airport Departure Tax, which has just risen in the UK. The tax for Malta flights for example has risen by a pound - or 9 per cent.
And it's possible that Malta and other European destinations might benefit as long haul holiday areas have had their ADT increase a lot more. While for flights to the islands it's a pound extra for each passenger, it's twenty five more a person for Florida - and for a family of four the total tax is now three hundred pounds compared to Malta flights at forty four pounds.
So the final trend for 2011 could be that families will wait that little bit longer for the holiday in Florida and wait for the economy to pick up before - for what would be for many families - a big ticket expense. And Mediterranean islands like Malta might enjoy a resurgence in the year ahead when tourists are looking for a quality trip, but one that is affordable.
But then last year's predictions were wildly out - who knows what 2011 truly holds in store for holidaymakers!
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