Travel failures drop in second quarter
The number of travel industry failures has dropped to 12 in the last quarter, but PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has warned the worse could be to come.
It said the drop from 27 failures in the first quarter, helped by the early warm weather and weak pound, will offer hope heading into August, but shock-waves might be felt in the autumn.
PwC said the spring quarter traditionally claims fewer victims, as travel businesses typically receive more money from customers during April to June than at other times of the year.
Director Ian Oakley-Smith said: "This, coupled with some apparent forbearance from regulators and lenders, has helped ensure failures during the period are no worse than a year ago.
“However, some travel businesses that continue to rely on support from shareholders, lenders and others may find this more difficult to sustain through the autumn. As a result we expect to see a further wave of insolvencies from September onwards."
The company said swine flu could also impact bookings for overseas travel.
“As the world tries to minimise the spread of swine flu (for example airlines actively preventing passengers with certain symptoms from boarding flights) there will naturally be an impact on inbound and outbound tourism which will also dampen the spirits of the travel industry over the summer,” said PwC director Guy Gillon.
“However, this may increase the propensity for domestic holidays."
PwC pointed out that there have been no camp or caravan site insolvencies since 2007 and is expected to show modest growth from 2009 – 2012.
Gillon added: “It is vital the market should not over-estimate the structural shift to camping and caravanning. As ever it has its place in the world but is a reaction to the recession. It is a cyclical and not structural shift in the market.
“Appetite for such holidays is as mobile as the caravan itself and, while it will remain in the hearts of a set group of holidaymakers, its ability to appeal to those other than the converted is temporary as the pound remains weak, the euro strong, unemployment high, and the sun supposedly out."
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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