Holidays Remain a Priority, Despite Money Worries - By: Kim d

The travel industry has been one of the many sectors to feel the impact of the global economic downturn full force, with many airlines facing severe hardship and jobs being lost. However, there are many indicators that people are not choosing to cancel their holidays.

Towards the end of last year, major travel operators Thomson and First Choice published the results of an online poll, which they said suggested that an “overwhelming 80 per cent of respondents” fully expected to enjoy their holidays during 2010. A similar number of people had insisted that they would not let a recession alter their planned holidays.

Other poll results featured in the 2009 Thomson and First Choice annual trends report showed that almost half of respondents were intending to spend the same amount on their 2010 holidays as the previous year – while 24 per cent even said that they intended to spend even more. However, it also showed that holiday plans are changing due to a lack of money.

Of the respondents that admitted to changing their holiday plans due to reduced finances, some 6 per cent said that they had considered booking package holidays to ensure that they were covered by ATOL provisions to get them home if their airline collapsed. For 2010 holidays, 13 per cent said that they were taking this precaution.

This is one side of the change in holiday booking habits but, conversely, another change has been in the way in which most people book their holidays. Although there may be less security when it comes to collapsed airlines, there has been a significant leap in the amount of holidays booked via small, independent operators via the Internet. Thanks to price comparison travel websites and the success story of low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair, ordinary people feel a lot more comfortable arranging the details of their holidays themselves and creating a tailor-made experience online.

People have also become far shrewder when it comes to bargain-hunting. In the 2009 Thomson and First Choice annual trends report, some 46 per cent of respondents admitted that they would be taking advantage of hotels’ worries about the economy to obtain five-star rooms at three or four-star prices. Others have sought out the most favourable exchange rates, forsaking the Eurozone for countries such as Turkey, which is fast becoming the medium-haul destination of choice thanks to the strong position of sterling compared to the Turkish lira.

About the Author

Kim has 4 years experience in the travel industry. She enjoys writing articles on various destinations and Travel related topics.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Kim-d/50835

Additional Articles From - Home | Home & family | Holidays