Holiday bookings for the coming months are in full swing, as the Germans' desire to travel is unabated. This message was presented by the German Travel Association (DRV) at the world’s biggest travel trade show ITB Berlin 2014 held from 05 - 09 March. Tour operators and travel agencies are profiting from a growing demand for early bird offers and high-end package travel. In the current 2013/14 travel season, sales of tour operators are therefore showing a pleasing trend: Growth rates for the coming summer season are in the upper single-digit range.
The current winter season is recording a stable result at previous year's level. Consequently, the tourism industry association is expecting an increase in total market sales of two to four percent for the full year 2014. “We may even arrive at a plus of five percent. This goes to show that this year again German holidaymakers are in the mood for travelling”, rejoices DRV President Jürgen Büchy about the sunny prospects for the travel industry.
This year, the Germans' classic seaside destinations are recording a further increase in bookings: Since the start of the 2013/14 tourism year last November, it is mainly Greece and Turkey, apart from the Canary Islands and Tunisia, that have been posting strong increases in bookings compared with the previous year. Bookings for Greece with German tour operators even rose by a double-digit rate. “Hellas continues to experience a comeback, which already brought a significant increase in bookings to the crisis-ridden country last year”, said DRV President Büchy. The demand for summer holidays at the Mediterranean shows in particular that these are booked ever more early. “This year, we see a continuing and even rising trend towards early booking”, said Büchy.
In 2014, tour operators also reported a strong increase in tourist numbers heading for numerous long-haul destinations, including the Caribbean islands such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Also Mexico, which received much attention as this year's ITB partner country, is among the winners in 2014. On the whole, there is a growing interest in long-haul destinations. Moreover, the demand for high-end travel products is rising: “This year, customers want to spend even more money on their best weeks of the whole year. After all, we have an excellent consumer climate, economic growth and low unemployment rates”, emphasized Büchy.
“The classic destinations of 2013 will remain the classics in the 2014 tourism year”, summarized the President of the Travel Association. Therefore, Spain will again defend its position as the Germans' favourite foreign destination. About one third of all German travel is done in the home country - thus, Germany remains at the top of the most popular destinations. Germany is an important destination for tour operators. “However, as many tourists organize their trips themselves, Germany still offers tour operators a lot of potential”, said Büchy.
At present, bookings for destinations in Egypt and Thailand are below last year's level, but the Asian country had recorded high growth rates in 2013. The slight decline against the formerly high level does not result in a severe slump in guest numbers; the situation in Thailand does remain stable. However, both countries are mostly visited during the winter months. Bookings for the so-called earthbound destinations (to be reached by car, bus or rail) are recording a slight plus this year. In addition to Germany, this segment also includes our neighbouring countries - as for instance Austria.