Sticking to tried-and-tested destinations like France and Spain, ‘Literatours’ marking the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice and space tourism are among Abta’s key travel trends predicted for 2013.
According to Abta’s Travel Trends Report 2013, early booking figures for next summer suggest that familiar destinations like Italy and Greece will continue to prove popular, with economic uncertainty prompting many people to “put their faith in where they know best”.
The report, developed in association with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), predicts that consumers will continue to look for good-value breaks in 2013 rather than cut back on their holidays.
While the mid-market is expected to continue to feel the squeeze, tailor-made packages, luxury holidays and all-inclusive breaks are expected to be popular.
‘Literatours’ are also tipped to give domestic tourism a boost in 2013, with the year marking 200 years since Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. A number of tours will be available to coincide with the Austen anniversary around places frequented by the author, from Hampshire to Bath and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire.
Another trend, albeit for the mega-rich, is space tourism, and 2013 set to be a historic year with the first consumer flight into space being launched by Virgin Galactic.
While tickets will be out of most people’s price range, with seats setting you back an eye-watering $200,000 for a two-hour trip, Abta says it “marks a new era in consumer travel” and will be a “landmark event for the travel industry”.
Virgin has said it has 529 paid-up passengers already and Richard Branson will be taking his children on the first voyage.
The forthcoming year is expected to see tour operators expanding their tailor-made holiday offerings in response to growing consumer demand for more flexible itineraries, but still with all the security and benefits of a package, predicts Abta,
“While tailor-made tours used to be just for the luxury end of the market, there are now many tour operators offering more affordable options due to the growth in popularity of this kind of holiday,” says the report.
“The rise of multi-centre holidays where holidaymakers may combine two or more destinations in their trip are also growing in popularity and fuelling the trend for tailor-made holidays.”
More adventure travel is also on the cards for 2013, with Abta’s research suggesting that 5% of consumers are expected to take an adventure or challenge holiday next year, involving activities like hot air ballooning or white water rafting.
The report forecasts all-inclusives to experience strong demand in 2013, building on their success in 2012.
“The all-inclusive market has been a major beneficiary of the downturn and 2013 looks set to see further increases in demand for all-inclusives, particularly amongst the family market who value the control over budget they allow,” said the report.
Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “The early indications are that forward bookings for 2013 are looking positive, despite a continued squeeze on household budgets.
“The majority of British holidaymakers are reluctant to give up their annual holiday even in tougher economic times. In particular, we are seeing strong forward bookings for the luxury and all-inclusive sectors, which have both done well in recent years.”