Report by Steve Jones
JANUARY sales of summer 2001 holidays have got off to a
sluggish start, with 50% discounts failing to capture the publics’ imagination.
Although campaigns are still in their early days,
post-Christmas trade has been slow.
The next two weekends are regarded as the most crucial
periods. Major groups said they were “satisfied” with the position but were
reserving judgement until later in the month.
The slow start has been partly blamed on poor weather, particularly
in Scotland and the north of England, and the public’s distrust of high
discounts.
A survey conducted by Travelcare revealed 57% of consumers
are baffled by the offers, with 65% simply not trusting them at all. The
results back up a previous study conducted by Travel Weekly last
February that also showed the vast majority of the public are sceptical about
discounts.