TUI sets out ambition to become biggest escorted tours company
TUI has significantly expanded its new escorted tours programme for 2020, adding several new, off-the-beaten track destinations including Uzbekistan (above), South Korea and Albania.
TUI Tours, which was launched in July 2018, includes a total of 70 destinations for 2020, which is a 50% increase for the summer season and a 25% increase for the winter.
Commercial director Richard Sofer said the operator wanted to continue to grow the programme with the aim of becoming the biggest escorted tours operator within the next three to five years, overtaking the likes of Riviera Travel and others.
Describing TUI Tours target market as ‘energised adventurers’, Sofer said the programme was aimed at over 50s who want to explore new countries with the security of a reputable company.
Included are ‘bucket list’ destinations from South America to Africa to Asia.
"These are not the sort of tours you expect from TUI," said UK managing director Andrew Flintham
The tours use local guides, they have some degree of flexibility, they can be booked online and customers can fly from 12 UK airports. Numbers are restricted to a maximum of 25 per tour and, crucially, departures are guaranteed, irrespective of the number of bookings.
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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