The travel package is ‘back and bigger than ever’
Concerns over exchange rates and Brexit are underlining trust in package holidays as travellers look for ‘locked-in’ prices and industry protection.
Research by Malvern Group also suggests the traditional package holiday is widening, with more consumers keener than ever to book all travel elements in one place.
Among the 2,000 consumers polled 47% have either booked, or plan to book, a package holiday in 2019 based on the advantage of financial protection and the ease of booking everything in one place (also 47%) as their main reasons for opting for a package holiday.
The YouGov poll for Malvern Group, which is the parent company of LateRooms.com. Super Break and Malvern Travel Technology, showed that the days of standard accommodation and flights package bundles appear to be on the decline.
Consumers now want a broader choice of options and experiences under one booking facility.
While two thirds of consumers still opt for the ‘classic travel bundle’ of accommodation (67%) and flights (65%), over a third (36%) of respondents expressed a demand for bus travel (from the airport and/or around the destination) to also be included in packaging a trip, closely followed by train travel (32%).
The survey also found a clear appetite for modern packaging to include the booking of experiences and activities too, with almost one in five (19%) also expressing a wish for restaurant bookings to be included in their bundles.
Almost a fifth (17%) said they’d like museums/attractions options and 10% said they would like theatre/shows tickets to be included in their booking.
This reflects recent findings by AITO’s 2018 annual survey, which revealed ‘culture, arts and history trips’ are now the number one travel experience sector for UK consumers.
Technology is spearheading travel bookings with 63% using digital platforms. The PC or laptop is still most widely used to book, popular among 39% of respondents. Smart phones are used by 12% of respondents, while the same percentage uses a tablet.
Only 6% of those surveyed book in store via a travel agent.
Malvern Group executive chairman Hugo Kimber said: "This new survey supports our own research that customers are looking for more choice and in one place."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports