Christmas break goes longhaul

Saturday, 12 Oct, 2004 0

UK holidaymakers are spending more on Christmas breaks, but it is not due to price hikes, says a leading independent retailer.

The average spend for a holiday over the festive period has risen by 58% to £3,251 compared to £2,057 last year according to the Travel Counsellors.

But the agency claims that although prices may have increased marginally, what is behind the trend is the decision by people to take more exotic breaks.

Nine of the Travel Counsellors’ top ten selling destinations for Christmas are longhaul compared to seven out of ten last year. The only shorthaul destination that has held its ground in the top ten this year is Tenerife, while Lanzarote and Gran Canaria have been pushed out by the likes of Sydney, New York and Antigua.

The top selling destination for 2004 bookings over the Christmas period is Barbados, followed by Dubai, Orlando (the choice for this year’s ABTA Convention), then Goa.

Travel Counsellors marketing manager Caroline Law said: “My view is that customers are now getting used to the idea of spending Christmas abroad and so are getting more courageous in their choice of destination.

“The fact people are spending so much more is a little bit surprising given the interest rate rises we’ve been seeing this year. But people do seem prepared to spend more on a Christmas holiday than they perhaps would at other times of the year.”

Report by Ginny McGrath

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Ginny McGrath

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