Kuoni reports uplift in demand for 2021 bookings
Kuoni’s total revenue for last week was almost level with the same time last year, which, the operator said, is a positive sign that people are starting to plan their 2021 holidays while they’re in lockdown.
It admitted that new booking revenue is down on last year and the majority of holidays booked for 2021 are existing customers re-arranging cancelled trips, but Kuoni said week-on-week there has been a ‘significant uplift’ in enquiries, brochure requests and phone calls.
CEO Derek Jones said: "People are using their time at home to think about future travel plans – specifically for holidays next year by which time the crisis should have safely passed.
"We’ve seen a clear upswing of new enquiries, people coming to us for help and expertise to make their ideas come together. Our team has been talking about everything from tailor-made tours in Argentina to road trips in California, and are helping to bring those plans to life."
The most popular destinations for 2021 are the Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico and Antigua, according to Kuoni.
Amongst the bookings confirmed over the past week are safaris in Kenya combined with beach extensions, fly-drives to California , Bali beach stays and tailor-made trips to Australia, it said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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