Leading tour wholesaler Norman Allen Group Travel is expecting a notable return to favour of coach tours to the Continent and Ireland next year. The sustained weakness of the Euro over several months is being noticed by the travelling public. This, combined with a notable reduction in 2016 tour prices should help re-invigorate the market.
Some examples of direct comparisons of tour prices are (% price reduction in brackets)
Valkenburg & 3 Countries 5 days £204 (9.8%)
Leipzig, Dresden & Colditz 7 days £298 (12.4%)
St. Anton, the Alpine Explorer 8 days £322 (5.6%)
Limerick & Killarney 6 days from £245 (8.6%)
The wholesaler also believes that the recent introduction of more flexible pension drawdown arrangements will also benefit the ‘senior’ leisure market with people more likely to take that ‘special’ holiday.
NAGT has continued to work hard with suppliers to enable more of its brochure tours to be labelled ‘Added Value’ or ‘Great Value Singles’. Laurie Kennard (Business Development Manager) said ‘tour group clients look for improved value by way of a more inclusive itinerary. We have increasingly added attraction entrances, train and boat rides and resort guides to our tour suggestions. In Europe in 2016 we have yet more hotels providing menu choice and/or drinks with dinner, and sometimes afternoon refreshments as well.’
‘Single room availability and supplements are a ‘hot topic’ in the industry. 40% of all our brochure tours carry the ‘ Great Value Singles’ symbol meaning supplements are below £20 per night. 25% of our UK brochure tours, offer up to six singles at no supplement’. Examples including a minimum of five singles with no supplement are..
Cornish Coast & Gardens 5 days from £238
Staffordshire’s Finest 5 days from £229
Ghosts & Witches in the Ribble Valley 5 days from £204
Pembrokeshire Coast 5 days from £206
The 2016 brochure offers 15 new hotels and itineraries in the UK and Europe, as well as 6 itinerary changes at established hotels.
Examples include…
Scotland’s South West Coast & Islands. 6 days from £285.
Splendid Snowdonia. 5 days from £226
Arras & the Somme 4 days from £175
Hanseatic Explorer. 7 days from £328
Denmark – Fairytales & Vikings 10 days from £595
For more information or a copy of the brochure contact
TEL. 01432 277666
Email normanallen@group-travel.com
Website www.group-travel.com