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Less Holidays For Families In 2012

03.09.2012 · Posted in Vacations Articles

Big banks and governments weren’t the only ones not to see the writing on the wall in the last couple of years over how long-lasting and deep the current poor economic climate would be – the travel industry as well failed to predict not just where people would holiday this year, but where.rnrnThe travel industry has been caught out on two fronts since the recession began, not just the confident but wrong projection that people would not forego their holidays, and that it would be the last item to be cut from the family budget – but also that when they do go on holiday where that would be.rnrnIn 2012 when people plan a holiday they are more likely to be looking at a map of Lanzarote and other destinations in Spain than countries like Egypt – where many holiday firms had booked tens of thousands of hotel rooms for in advance – and had to sell cheaply or not at all as Egypt became embroiled in the Arab Spring, and the ultimate deposing of President Mubarak.rnrnNor does there seem a rush for the holidaying public to start booking for Egypt and other destinations closeby anytime soon, as the political troubles seem far from over and the civil unrest and military response is often reported in the media.rnrnBut it could be argued that no-one could have predicted the Arab Spring – after all governments didn’t – and that the marketing of Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey was simply a reaction to the recession, and it provided the travel industry the opportunity to be able to offer sunshine holidays at cheaper prices than for example the Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife and Gran Canaria.rnrnHowever what many did get wrong was that families would regard their holidays as sacrosant, and that no matter how tough times got the household budget would always have an allocation for holidays – that people would view their trips abroad as a necessity rather than a luxury, and no matter what they would still being looking at a Lanzarote map and deciding which resort to stay in.rnrnIn fact a recent survey shows that nearly four out of ten adults in the UK didn’t take a holiday last year – showing that the travel analyst predictions weren’t just wrong, but very wrong. The survey counted a holiday as one that lasted seven nights or more either in the UK or abroad.rnrnAnd for those that did take a holiday, another sign of the times. Sixty percent took just one – quite a contrast to 2007 and a few years before when many were taking two main holidays and one or two long weeends to discover city destinations such as Barcelona or Prague, along with quite a few other destinations which were just a couple of hours flight away, making a flight out on a Friday and returning Sunday evening popular with many.rnrnThe affordability to do this was helped greatly by low cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair operating from the UK to traditional destinations but also opening new routes not served before, and people had far more places on the map of Europe to choose where they could visit and discover for the first time.rnrnAnd when planning the trip the low cost airlines were flying from airports across the map of the UK. No longer was it a two or three hour trip just to get to the airport for those who didn’t live near major population centres. Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds and Bristol airports meant that a long weekend away was available for many more potential tourists, at prices they could afford.rnrnBut for many those days have gone. No longer the plans for three or four holidays a year, discovering new places while re-visiting firm favourites. And until the economy improves, and people believe it’s turned the corner for a while, it will be one main holiday in the summer or for an increasing number no holiday at all.rnrnIt will take more than confident predictions from the travel industry for people to believe the good times are here again given their past record!

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