High-street travel agencies in Germany remain on the growth path: This year, sales revenues of the almost 9,900 German travel agencies were up by about three percent. Growth was driven by bookings of cruises and package tours organized by tour operators. With sales amounting to almost 24 billion euros, last year's record figure was again significantly exceeded. At its Annual Convention in Lisbon on November 19, 2015, the DRV published this estimated figure for the calendar year 2015 that has not yet ended.
There was a drop in individual bookings of air and rail tickets in travel agencies so that agencies focussing on package tours performed better than classic agencies with a high percentage of air and rail travel. The agencies specializing in package tours have witnessed in particular a thriving cruise business. As the very fast growing range of choices in the cruise segment requires intensive consultancy, travel agencies can here exploit their trump cards of qualified and individual advice and special product knowledge. Agencies are acting as brokers for about 80 percent of cruises. "Travel agencies are and will remain the most important distribution channel for cruises," emphasized DRV President Norbert Fiebig when presenting the preliminary economic results.
Business travel agencies also witnessed a positive development, with sales revenues growing between 2 and 2.5 percent. Unlike the tourism business, the business travel segment cannot do without air and rail ticket sales. We see no decline here.
Online travel agencies, i.e. portals with a comprehensive neutral product range, saw their percentage growth levelling off with that of high-street distribution channels. In 2015, the growth rate has been just under three percent, thereby slackening for the second time in a row.
An interesting trend from last year has continued in 2015: Bookings of high-end holidays have again recorded significant growth. According to analyses carried out by the market research company GfK, sales of high-end products at prices of more than 2,500 euros per person are growing considerably, at a rate of almost eight percent this year. The GfK also found out that less vacationers have booked their holidays at the last minute. Last minute bookings were down by nine percent.
It is very gratifying to see a continued renaissance of travel agencies. "This goes to show that consumers attach great importance to qualified and individual advice", said DRV President Fiebig. The number of travel agencies has grown for the second time in a row. About 100 new agencies were set up in 2014. This year has seen the opening of about another 65 high-street and business travel agencies, bringing the total number to almost 9.900.