Sales of packaged vacations and tours should increase this year over 2003, says Bob Whitley, president of the United States Tour Operators Association.
He said:
“The long-term trend towards packaging independent elements together, as well as the combination of cruises and tours, will continue strong in the future.”
He added a trend is for tour operators to provide more time for independent activities within the framework of planned itineraries.
A poll of USTOA members found 42% of respondents saying sales will increase 25% this year over 2003.
One of the strongest areas of growth was cruise tours and sales to Central and South America.
But Mr Whitley said the highest growth potential for the future was in independent tours, FIT arrangements, and combination escorted tours with free time and flexibility built in.
He said that USTOA members did not think the Euro had affected tour and vacation package sales this year, but that it likely would in 2005.
Report by David Wilkening
