Operator names best-selling destinations for 2016
New York, Thailand, Maldives, Las Vegas and Mauritius are the best selling long-haul destinations so far this year, according to Hayes & Jarvis.
The Big Apple has held on to the number one slot for the second year running, while Thailand has bounced back into second place, despite recent unrest in the capital Bangkok. As a result, Hayes & Jarvis has added the island of Koh Samet this year.
Sales to Mauritius are up 19%, according to the operator’s latest Trends report, with many customers opting to stop off in Dubai.
Bookings to Dubai are up 9% with more people opting to stay for longer, said Hayes & Jarvis, which pointed out that many customers had switched to the Middle East destination following the suspension of flights to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.
In anticipation of growing demand for the Emirates as an alternative to Egypt, Hayes & Jarvis has added Ajman for 2016.
Customers for Sharm have also switched to Hurghada, an alternative resort on the Red Sea to Sharm, said the operator.
Other destinations it has tipped to do well this year include Kenya, the USA and Mexico.
It said Kenya has already come back strongly since the Foreign Office advice to avoid certain parts of the coast was lifted last year. The country has recently launched a package of financial incentives to charter airlines to encourage them to launch or relaunch flights to Mombasa.
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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