Agents have welcomed travel’s return to mainstream UK television but doubt whether ITV’s four-part Travel Guides show will boost business.
The hour-long programmes have been described as a “Gogglebox for holidays” and see five families and groups from diverse backgrounds sent to experience different types of trips.
The first show featured Koh Samui in Thailand, the second Dubai, this week’s was based on a three-star all-inclusive in Tenerife, while the final show on Monday focuses on the Lake District.
Travel-PA homeworker Gaynor Tuby said Travel Guides was entertaining but lacked any real advice for holidaymakers.
“I don’t think the show has done any of the destinations justice,” she said. “It’s a bit cringeworthy because of the people’s lack of knowledge about the destinations.
“We do need more travel programmes on TV but I would concentrate on a destination and show what there is to do there, the places to visit and give more choice to suit different budgets.
“They should have done it more as a proper travel guide, like in the old days. I used to love Judith Chalmers and Wish You Were Here..?”Commenting on Travel Gossip on Facebook, Mike Stones, of USA Travel Experts, said: “Having the public do TripAdvisor-style reviews was a good idea and
might have helped people make holiday decisions.
“Unfortunately, they have turned the concept into a travellers’ version of Gogglebox and the resort becomes almost incidental.”
Jenny Jackson, also a Travel-PA homeworker, said she wished the show had offered viewers advice about the benefits of finding good deals through travel agents.
“Anything that promotes holidays is good, but I do think they missed a trick,” she said.