Industry reactions to threat of war
UK: Some delay their bookings while others snap up cheap deals
Different people react to a crisis in different ways – so it should be no surprise that there are differing reports on travellers reaction to the fact that war may be just around the corner.
The Independent reports that “many travellers” are continuing to book trips away with the flight specialist Trailfinders telling the newspaper: “There’s no immediate sign of any downturn in long-haul bookings.” The newspaper also reports that South America is increasingly being seen as a safe destination, while the Canary Islands are also seeing a boom in arrivals – something that also happened during the last Gulf war. Alan Cornish, of Corona Holidays, which specialises in the Canaries, said: “Saddam Hussein is on our Christmas card list.”
However, a report in The Guardian quotes a survey by Advantage Travel Centres, which suggests summer holiday sales are well down because of the threat of war, with 24 per cent of a poll saying their holiday plans had been affected by the threat of military action. Families are particularly likely to have changed their plans; the survey shows sales in the family summer package market down between 20 and 25 per cent. The organisers of the survey admit that many families may, of course, merely be delaying making a booking until later in the year.
The Observer centres on the many discounts available at the moment, largely because of the war threat. It specifically mentions destinations traditionally popular with Americans, who are “staying away in droves” from destinations including the Caribbean.
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