NORFOLK, ENGLAND, December 05, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Speaking at the ABTA Travel Convention in Gran Canaria, Richard Carrick said that the UK is set to compensate for the projected downturn in overseas holiday-taking by Britons in 2009.
"There is broad agreement that the overall number of trips taken by Britons will not rise in 2009, but neither will it fall much. This means that the UK is well set to benefit from the predicted reduction in overseas trips outlined by speakers at the Convention."
Delegates heard yesterday (Tuesday 7th October) that the overall number of overseas holidays taken by Britons would fall by up to 10% in 2009, but Carrick says this reduction is good news for the domestic tourism industry.
"People will still want to go on holiday, but they are likely to take short breaks closer to home, as and when they know they can afford it. It will be a case of 'pack up the car and go', with a continuation in the ongoing trend for very late booking. This benefits the UK market, as it is well-placed to deliver this kind of experience.
"Already demand for 2009 UK holidays is up on last year; at Hoseasons we are more than 5% ahead of where we were this time last year, and this despite 2008 itself being a very strong year for the UK.
"This is the biggest opportunity to sell Britain ever, and we believe that the travel trade will increasingly see the benefits of promoting domestic holidays in 2009."
Hoseasons is the UK's leading self-catering specialist, providing boating holidays, cottage holidays, city breaks and family holidays in the UK.
About Hoseasons Holidays
With over 12,000 places to stay in coastal and countryside settings throughout Britain and Ireland (and now in mainland Europe), Hoseasons Holidays is the UK's leading self-catering specialist.
Source: Hoseasons Holidays
Website: http://www.hoseasons.co.uk
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