Adventure holidays and cruises set the trend for holidaymakers

HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW:ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS, cruise trips and bespoke getaways are the bright points in an otherwise cloudy outlook for the travel sector, according to the organisers of the forthcoming Holiday World Show.

All three areas are showing modest growth, while other sections of the business contract as a result of the recession.

The collapse last year of Budget Travel, the country’s biggest tour operator, also creates opportunities for former rivals to grab market share.

The resulting reduction in competition is almost certain to lead to higher prices for the consumer, however, according to John Butterly, who is involved in organising Holiday World. One of the big innovations at the exhibition, at Dublin’s RDS Simmonscourt from January 22nd to 24th, will be Thomas Cook’s new emphasis on bespoke holidays.

This will allow holidaymakers to move away from the traditional one- or two-week package in favour of DIY arrangements. Thomas Cook owns Panorama, Sunworld and Direct Holidays.

The adventure-holiday sector is also continuing to grow, according to Butterly, as more consumers seek activity breaks. One factor driving this trend, he says, is the growing number of people choosing to take a long break if they lose their jobs, usually funded by their redundancy package. Butterly says cruise holidays are also holding their own as more people reach retirement age.

Cruise specialist John Galligan of John Galligan Travel claims this is the fastest-growing sector of the travel business. Because it’s a specialised area, it has proved relatively immune to the broader move away from traditional travel agents and towards online booking.

Galligan is reluctant to confine his target market to seniors or sedentary tourists, adding that some cruise ships offer surfing facilities, ice rinks and even climbing walls.

Despite the recession, more than 70 countries will be represented at Holiday World, including 2,000 travel and tourism professionals.