Ski market to be ‘difficult’
From more than 2,000 people polled, almost a fifth more are forgoing their usual winter break of either flying off for Christmas sun, holidaying in the UK, or hitting the ski slopes.
Despite fears of a prolonged recession, the consumer intention is still to preserve the annual summer holiday at the expense of the winter option.
This finding is consistent with the same poll conducted in November 2008, with the main holiday still coming second to a growing number of people who intend to repay debt on credit cards, loans and overdrafts (20% in November 2008 rising to 27% in December 2009), according to PwC.
Short breaks are starting to edge back up the priority list from 8th to 6th place, while dining out remains at the bottom of the spend agenda.
PwC leisure director David Trunkfield, leisure director said: “This is consistent with travel trade expectations for 2010.
"Early sentiment indicates that the travel trade expects summer 2010 to be broadly flat with 2009 – although there remains a concern about how some consumer groups will finance their main holiday – as average spend per family on an annual holidays now costs into the thousands."
Gradual impact of tax rises, increases in Air Passenger Duty, and potentially more security restrictions at airports will all have an impact.
“Last year we already saw a big shift to late booking, due to uncertainty over job prospects,” said Trunkfield.
Which one of the following is your top spend priority for 2010?
|
Priority spend
|
Nov 2008
|
Dec 2009
|
|
Debt repayment on credit cards / loans / overdrafts
|
20% – 1st
|
27% – 1st
|
|
Main holidays
|
16% – 2nd
|
16% – 2nd
|
|
Savings and investments
|
9% – 5th
|
12% – 3rd
|
|
Minor home improvements
|
11% – 3rd
|
10% – 4th
|
|
Saving for new house
|
4% – 7th
|
4% – 5th
|
|
Short breaks
|
2% – 8th
|
3% – 6th
|
|
Buying a new car
|
4% – 6th
|
3% – 7th
|
|
Debt repayment on mortgage
|
9% – 4th
|
3% – 8th
|
|
Special occasion (i.e. weddings)
|
2% – 9th
|
2% – 9th
|
|
Clothes shopping
|
1% – 12th
|
2% – 10th
|
|
Garden improvements
|
2% – 10th
|
1% – 11th
|
|
Eating and drinking out
|
1% – 11th
|
1% – 12th
|
|
Gym membership
|
1% – 13th
|
1% – 13th
|
|
Visiting theatre / cinema
|
1% – 14th
|
1% – 14th
|
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