The ABTA Travel Convention in Marrakech 2005
LONDON, UK, November 25, 2005. For the first time following the tsunami, the prolific hurricane season and this year's terrorist bombings, the UK travel industry will meet at the ABTA Travel Convention this week (Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 November) in Marrakech, Morocco to discuss the key issues affecting British holiday businesses and their holidaymakers.
Despite the natural and man-made disasters, British travellers are determined to holiday in more numbers than ever before with a 5% increase in the number of British holiday visits abroad in the first six months of this year (the latest figures available). Most of this growth occurred in the long haul destinations, which saw a 12% growth as opposed to 3.2% growth in European destinations1.
As a result, the UK travel industry is one of the most dynamic in the world, changing rapidly to meet consumers' new holiday demands and buying habits. This year has seen an 86% increase in broadband internet connections, which has made searching and booking travel through the web easier, together with the growth in better website technology, 42% of the travelling public now buy their holidays through online travel agencies, many of these ABTA members.
However, with the apparent increase in threat to safety overseas, high street travel agents are holding their own proving that they are the best place for face to face assurance, expertise, knowledge and convenience, while selling more tailor-made holiday arrangements to their consumers.
Traditional package holidays are also changing shape, providing customers with more flexible choices while still offering holidaymakers the ultimate in safety - providing guaranteed financial protection and customer service while abroad if things go wrong.
ABTA Travel Convention delegates will hear from entrepreneurs from within and outside the industry including Karan Bilimoria from Cobra Beer, Gerald Ratner, from geraldonline and John Caudwell, Phones4U, all whom promise to provide valuable insights from other sectors familiar with rapid change.
With the increase of fuel prices and the rise of travel across the globe a certainty, sustainability issues will also be hotly debated. Responsible tourism is now seen as a necessity rather than a voluntary add on, and industry charity, the Travel Foundation -will provide further information on how holiday companies can ensure that the destinations they sell will continue to be beautiful and pristine for future generations.
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