TravelMole Interview: Richard Carrick, Hoseasons

UK tourism is set for a bumper year in 2004, but the boost will come from domestic trips, not overseas visitors, says Hoseasons chief executive, Richard Carrick. “All the indications are that domestic tourism will be big this year – I have been predicting a bumper year for quite some time and I have no reason to change that opinion” said Mr Carrick. He added: “Increasingly we are a nation of busy people who work too hard and don’t spend enough time with their partners, families or friends. “There are fewer seven and 14 night holidays being taken, and more short breaks. People will take a break in the UK at some stage.” Mr Carrick says the problem has never been filling beds in peak summer months. He said: “We are full to bursting in July and August – there is very little bed space anywhere in the UK in these months. “But now that it is acceptable to take short breaks in the UK, beds are being filled in the shoulder months in spring and autumn.” He says that the UK domestic market does compete with no-frills carriers taking people to Europe, but says that he is confident people will still take at least one break a year in the UK. Mr Carrick says that the weather has become less of an issue for Brits wanting to holiday at home. “People perceive the weather to be better, they are also aware of the health risks of being in the sun too long, and increasingly UK accommodation comes with indoor facilities likes pools and health clubs.” He says that an improvement in the quality of UK services and facilities has also helped: “People in the service industry in the UK have woken up to the fact that it is not just customer service that counts, but facilities have to be as good as, if not better than the facilities people get at home.” He says that these added facilities, like spas or outdoor activities are popular: “People want to take holidays with some meaning. We are less inclined to “fly and flop”, and more inclined to be more active on our breaks – even though we go away to recoup and relax.” However, one thing is still letting UK tourism down – transport. “Proper integrated planning and investment is needed in the UK transport infrastructure”, said Mr Carrick. “We have been ill-served as an industry by the Government for many years. Richard Caborn (Labour Minister for sport and tourism) is operating with one hand behind his back. He is very committed to tourism, but doesn’t have the time to spend on it. “He told me recently that he could only spend 25% of his time on tourism. “It is high time that this industry got its own government department and its own government minister.” However, Mr Carrick says that despite its inadequacies, he thinks that the state of the transport system is not putting people off domestic breaks all together. One thing Hoseasons is trying to do to get people to travel outside peak hours, and avoid congestion, was to alter change-over days. Many owners still have their changeover days on Saturdays, but if this changes to a week day, holidaymakers might not get stuck in traffic jams on the roads. He is less confident about getting visitors in from abroad, despite positive statistics released by VisitBritain this week. “Whether we will be successful in drawing the overseas visitors is hard to tell. The US market doesn’t show much signs of coming back quickly. Although the European market should fair better, it depends on currency fluctuations – and how far your Euro will get you”, he said. He was speaking as VisitBritain added a new strand to its marketing effort designed to encourage more UK residents to holiday in England. The ‘Be Yourself, Enjoy England’ strategy is aimed at entice people to have fun and indulge themselves on a domestic holiday. VisitBritain said: “It reflects the attitudes of today’s image-conscious consumers who lead busy lives, are confident, self-assured and often active in their free time, but when on holiday want to be entertained and do not want to feel like tourists.” VisitBritain says that it expects inbound tourism to grow by 3.3% in 2004 to 25 million, exceeding the levels reached 2000 – considered the last ‘normal’ year.