Travel industry positive but cautious about 2017
ABTA is predicting a positive outlook for the travel industry in 2017 but tempered by caution and uncertainty.
Releasing its latest Travel Trends Reports, the industry association said early bookings for overseas holidays appear strong for 2017, with GfK’s latest figures showing bookings for next summer tracking 11% above last year.
ABTA said its own research also reveals that almost a quarter of the population (24%) plan to spend more on holidays next year.
But it said despite encouraging signs such as these, many uncertainties remain, including around the Government’s Brexit negotiations.
"As we reflect on a challenging but successful year for the travel industry and look at the prospects for 2017, there are encouraging signs pointing towards a positive outlook for next year," said Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive.
"However, when there is so much volatility and uncertainty in our economy, it is difficult to predict what is going to happen to bookings next year, and Brexit negotiations will certainly impact the travel industry."
ABTA has identified its 12 ‘Destinations to watch’ for 2017, saying these are a mixture of destinations expected to capture the public’s imagination next year for a variety of reasons.
They are, in alphabetical order:
Andalucia, Spain
Azores, Portugal
Bermuda
Chile
Country Kerry, Ireland
Croatia
Denmark
Kerala, India
Sardinia, Italy
South Africa
The Southern States, USA
Vietnam
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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