Top Summer Holiday Destinations 2005
NOVEMBER 25, 2005. The rankings of our favourite summer holiday destinations this year remain unchanged, despite slower growth compared to more "exotic" destinations.
Spain again easily remains on top, even though the growth in the number of UK visitors has so far slowed to one per cent this year. France and Greece are number two and three, and the US is in 4th place. Among those taking package holidays, however, Greece was much higher than France but still well behind Spain. The two together (Greece and Spain) accounted for 45% of package holidays abroad. Turkey, France and the US were the next largest market for packages.
Although Spain, France and Greece still receive the most number of British tourists, this belies the rapid changes being experienced in these destinations, particularly in Spain.
Holidaymakers are now making greater choices when visiting Spain. If they book a package, they can pick and choose the flights and accommodation and choose between flying out on a charter (39.2% of UK arrivals), scheduled or no-frills airline (46.3%of UK arrivals). As a result, more are taking advantage of shorter breaks and 8% of the market are holidaying in second homes or time-shares.
According to Trip-Vision 45% of this summer's visitors to Spain booked a package, 17% booked a package direct with a tour operator, and 28% booked a package through a travel agent. 55% booked independent arrangements, while 26% booked independent travel arrangements through a travel agent and 36% booked either accommodation or transport direct. Thus 54% of the total used a travel agent to help organize their trip.
Next year it is expected that, in order to be more competitive, tour operators with airlines with routes to Spain will be switching their flights to scheduled services, and so more flights will be unbonded.
President Martin Wellings said: "There's no doubt that the changes we are seeing in the industry to Spain will broaden out to other destinations. This will have an impact on consumer protection. However, if customers book with an ABTA company, they will still be able to travel fully protected and are safe in the knowledge that they have booked with a company that will offer a minimum service guarantee."
More/&
Top Holiday Destinations: Summer 2005
%All %Abroad %Abroad Independent %Abroad Packages
Britain 45%
Spain (incl. Canaries) 14% 26% 23% 28%
France 6% 11% 19% 6%
Greece 6% 11% 3% 17%
USA 4% 7% 9% 5%
Italy 3% 5% 8% 3%
Turkey 2% 4% 1% 6%
Portugal 2% 4% 3% 4%
North Africa 2% 3% 1% 5%
Central Eastern Europe 2% 3% 4% 2%
Latin America (inc Caribbean) 1% 2% 3% 2%
Canada 1% 2% 4% 1%
Belgium or Luxembourg 1% 2% 2% 2%
Germany 1% 2% 2% 1%
Scandinavia 1% 1% 1% 2%
Ireland 1% 1% 2% 1%
India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka/Banglade 1% 1% 1% 1%
(N.B. 57% of all Holidays Abroad in this period were packaged)
(Source: Trip-Vision Data)
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