Last year was one of rebound and higher sales for 2011 are expected, according to three-quarters of US Tours Operators in a USTOA survey.
“International travel saw a rebound in 2010, with more than three-quarters of survey respondents saying that travel had increased by an average 40 percent year over year, largely fueled by growth in Europe destinations,” the poll found.
Less than 15 percent saw business down, and nearly 10 percent said business was unchanged.
Optimism over Europe sales is tempered by the fact that the Oberammergau Passion Play helped spike 2010 sales. This business will need to be replaced in 2011 by other products if Europe sales are to maintain their momentum, USTOA members said.
Domestic travel also was up, although less dramatically. More than half of responding USTOA members reported an average increase in travel by over 30 percent. Fully one-quarter of respondents saw domestic business unchanged compared to 2009, while nearly 20 percent said business was down.
By David Wilkening
