Asia specialist Wendy Wu Tours has introduced its first UK tour to meet high demand for staycations this year.
The operator, which specialises in Asia and South America, said a customer poll which showed strong interest in the Scottish Highlands as a touring destination prompted the launch of an 11-day fully-inclusive tour, with the first departure in October this year.
A recent customer survey found more than 72% of Wendy Wu Tours’ customers said they were ready to book a staycation in the UK for travel this year as soon as restrictions allow, while international travel was top of the agenda for 2022.
The poll showed the top three UK staycation touring destinations were the Scottish Highlands, chosen by almost 75% of respondents, followed by Ireland, Cornwall and north Wales.
Wendy Wu’s new Spirit of Scotland tour, from £2,490, will have a maximum group size of 24 and take in Scotland’s cities, the Highlands and islands.
Starting in Edinburgh and ending in Inverness, the escorted tour includes Fort William, the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Mull and Glasgow.
Wendy Wu Tours says it is the only specialist escorted tour operator to include the full 84-mile railway journey on the Jacobite Steam Train, also known as the Hogwarts Express, on an all-inclusive Blue Badge guided group tour of Scotland as well as offering a visit on board the Royal Yacht Britannia on the same tour.
John Warr, global sales director, said: “There’s a huge demand for staycations in 2021. Our Scotland tour has just gone on sale and already we’re close to selling out on the first departure.
“Our poll, which spoke to agents and customers, was a clear indicator that demand to get away this year is high, and Scotland is top of the list as the most desirable UK staycation.”
Warr called the Spirit of Scotland tour a “game-changer” in the UK staycation touring sector because it combined all Scotland’s ‘greatest hits’ with experiences such as the Royal Yacht Britannia and journey on the Jacobite Steam Train.