Pirie rubbishes government’s ‘holidays are a luxury’ claim

Travel Republic managing director Kane Pirie has rubbished a Department for Works and Pensions survey which suggested parents do not see family holidays as a necessity.

After questioning families in Birmingham, Reading and Sheffield, the department said the annual holiday is no longer a staple of family life.

The report read: “The research did not confirm previous findings that a week’s holiday is an essential minimum, some thought a long weekend would suffice.”

The findings show families have apparently scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties.

But Pirie described this report as “another futile attempt to peddle the staycation myth from 2009.”

He added: “The government survey seems to be about what people consider vital or not, which is quite different to what is a luxury.

“I am not surprised that in the survey people rank bedrooms separate from their own for older children as ‘vital’ but one week’s holiday as ‘not vital’.

“Of course holidays are not vital to families but people love them just the same.

“The outbound leisure industry has seen a major recovery in 2010 with many companies reporting double digit growth.

“For most families the summer holiday is an annual highlight and remains a spending priority.”

The report also said parents thought it vital to go out together away from their children “on a regular basis to maintain their relationship.”