AITO operators outline travel trends for 2008

A selection of AITO members have unveiled their 2008 forecasts for trends in the independent travel sector and plans for their businesses.

Here’s what they said:

Sunvil Holidays managing director Noel Josephides “With aviation fuel prices still high, the US dollar starting to strengthen and environmental concerns on everyone’s mind, holidaymakers will stay closer to home in 2008 – in particular, Europe. One likely hot-spot is northern Greece – it’s relatively untouched by tourism and, as well as ancient history and dramatic mountain scenery, has the extraordinary Meteora. UNESCO protected, these are five medieval monasteries perched on eroded rock pinnacles. Why go any further?”

Explore operations director Peter Crane: “Explore’s Family Adventures programme continues to flourish with 2008 bookings to Egypt and the Middle East proving much more popular than last year. Due to unprecedented demand, Explore’s most popular family trip – the 10-day “Egyptian Adventure” – now has 18 departure dates in 2008, with space still expected to be very limited.”

Kirker Holidays sales & marketing director Ted Wake: “As travellers become more carbon-conscious and seek holidays with less environmental impact, we have seen an increase in short-haul trips via Eurostar to old favourites such as France. Two-centre trips combining Paris with somewhere like Avignon or the Cote d’Azur – destinations reached stylishly and effortlessly by train from the capital – are proving particularly popular, and are likely to be very de rigeur in 2008.”

Ffestiniog Travel general manager Gina Warren: “As the world becomes ever more environmentally aware, so train travel’s popularity is surging. Especially big is wilderness train travel, for passengers wanting to get well off the beaten (rail) track. Tours that include lines without ordinary passenger connections or remote regional railways open only a few weeks a year are selling very well. The mixture of traditional transport and atypical destination is key.”

Africa managing director Chris McIntyre: “We’re finding that Botswana’s top lodges are now filling up with incredible speed. By 2008, most will be booked for 12 months ahead; bookings of this longevity are becoming ever more common. A further development is that much of Botswana is becoming very, very expensive. In reaction to this, we’ve introduced a range of less bank-busting trips. These still stay in quality lodges, and frequent quieter corners offering great game-viewing.”

VFB Holidays managing director Jonathan White: “VFB Holidays has seen a rising trend towards themed holidays. Fewer people are satisfied with ‘fly and flop’ breaks; the desire now is for special interest tours where they can discover something new or indulge in an existing passion in the company of likeminded travellers. Our wine, gastronomic and art cruises are proving especially popular in this respect.”

All Ways Pacific managing director John Rankin:”More and more, we find that clients crave a feeling of active involvement with their destination, rather than just a set of beautiful photos to take back home – whether it’s watching the mighty whales off the coast of Kaikoura, experiencing the thermal wonderland of Rotorua or spending a night in the Mt Cook National Park.”

Classic Cottages managing director Simon Tregoning: “While many holidaymakers yearn for a complete break from day-to-day life, a growing number wish to ‘stay connected’ and plump for properties with broadband and wireless Internet access.”

Real Holidays managing director Philip Davies: “Latin America has long been gaining popularity – but now the focus is on spots beyond the traditional tourist gaze. One example is Ecuador. Whereas before everyone gallivanted off to the Galapagos, now the rest of the country is preferable – wood-carving markets, the incredible Avenue of the Volcanoes, ancient cities, boutique hotels and exclusive lodges reached only by motorised canoe. This combination of remote and refined ought to ensure Ecuador is massive in 2008.”

Explore operations director Peter Crane: “From January, Explore will offset CO2 emissions from all customers’ flights – while most competitors retain opt in/out arrangements. After consulting with customers, we felt it was environmentally necessary to include cabon offsetting in the costs of all tours. Explore also supports a number of RT projects around the world, such as India’s Project Tiger scheme.”