What every country needs to boost tourism is a visit from David Attenborough. The wildlife presenter’s recent BBC1 “Africa” blockbuster has resulted in soaring bookings for Kenya after a “long, lean period”.
In its first Long Haul Trend Report of 2013, Hayes and Jarvis says the Attenborough-effect has done wonders for Kenya. The report shows recovery too for Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, which are finally attracting back Brits after the Arab Spring uprisings.
Both destinations feature in Hayes and Jarvis’ Top Ten Destinations Worldwide chart, based on holiday sales for the past three months. Kenya rates third in the top 10 list because of a 77 per cent increase in early bookings for summer holidays, while competitively-priced late deals have fuelled a 31 per cent growth in Red Sea package sales – returning Egypt to the Top 10 for the first time in three years.
Sean Dowd of Hayes and Jarvis said package prices for several resorts in both destinations were matching those in 2012 and that “this is undoubtedly a factor in their recovery”.
He added: “In spring and early summer we have examples of resorts where package prices are the same as they were a year ago – despite an increase in airline taxes that could have been expected to increase package costs.”
Demand for mid-haul holidays has mushroomed over the past three months. A 50 per cent increase in bookings for travel to Dubai in early 2013 has made it Hayes and Jarvis’ top late availability destination while the rising popularity of short breaks – and twin centre trips combined with the Indian Ocean – has helped both Dubai and Abu Dhabi to prosper, the latter showing a 73 per cent growth.
New York remains the long haul specialist’s best-selling short break destination. Top performers overall are Mauritius and Mexico, mostly due to the high quality and competitive prices of four and five-star all-inclusive resorts. An increase in direct flights to Cancun has also helped. There has been a drop in demand for the three traditional Caribbean bestsellers – Barbados, St Lucia and Antigua – but the Dominican Republic comes in at No 10.
The final big hitter in the long haul holiday market is Vietnam, identified last year by Hayes and Jarvis as a rising star and now outperforming “big brother” Thailand in recent months.
Top Ten Destinations Worldwide
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Kenya
- New York
- Hawaii
- Egypt
- Vietnam
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Dominican Republic
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