Hayes and Jarvis reveals winners and losers in long-haul report

Vietnam is the destination which has shown the strongest growth in bookings this year, according to the latest long-haul report by Hayes & Jarvis.

It said Africa has also seen rising demand, while its best selling destinations, New York and Las Vegas, have both seen "sizeable increases" in bookings where a second city or beach stay is added to the package.

Head of commercial Sean Dowd said: "While off-the-peg beach packages are still popular – especially four and five-star all-inclusive – there is no doubting the steady decline in demand for traditional fly-and-flop beach holidays. 

"In sharp contrast, our multi-centre trip bookings have doubled over the past two years because growing numbers of people are keen to see more of what a country – or a region of the world – has to offer when they travel further afield.

"Multi-centre trips now account for over a third of our business and this growth trend is one which we expect to accelerate."

Over two-thirds of the operator’s bookings for Vietnam – to where direct flights were introduced in late 2011 – are for multi-centre holidays, it said.

"After a significant sales surge during 2012, Vietnam bookings have mushroomed by 98% this year," said Dowd.

In Africa, Hayes & Jarvis has seen the greatest growth to Kenya, with bookings up 51% year on year, but it said the real driver has been "a renewed enthusiasm" for safaris, fuelled by the BBC Africa programme earlier this year.

It said safari bookings were up 286% and Kenya is now one of its leading multi-centre holidays, in fourth place behind Thailand, California and Las Vegas.

Elsewhere in East Africa, bookings for Tanzania have grown by 37% making this Hayes and Jarvis’ fourth fastest growing destination in 2013. 

Brazil has shown a 55% increase in bookings this year compared to last, making it the second fastest growing destination for the operator, which claimed the country is now experiencing the pre-World Cup boom previously predicted.

"Most customers are taking the opportunity to see as much of the country as possible and are combining a stay in Rio with a tour that takes in highlights like Iguassu Falls, Salvador and the Amazon Jungle," said Dowd.

Meanwhile, Hayes and Jarvis reports that New York and Las Vegas have outsold all competitors this year to top its bestselling destinations list.

Hayes & Jarvis Top Ten Destinations Worldwide 2013 (Sales: Jan-May 2013)

The Long Haul Trend Report reveals that destinations which have historically been Hayes and Jarvis favourites are struggling to compete this year. 

Tough market conditions including increased land costs and poor exchange rates have impacted on the Maldives and bookings have fallen by 35%.  By contrast, Mauritius has registered an 11% rise so far in 2013.  

"Mauritius may yet prove to be the new Maldives," said Dowd.  "Strong airfare and hotel offers, high quality all-inclusive resorts and the opportunity to twin with Dubai and other cities have all helped to fuel demand."

Hayes and Jarvis has also seen a continuing fall in demand for some Caribbean since its February Trend Report, with Barbados down 51%, and Antigua down 58% , but Tobago and the Dominican Republic have seen rises of 16% for the year to date.