Bad Year Leads to High Availability of Cheap Holiday Deals

The British travel industry has highlighted a rash of cheap late deals on offer this year, because of the massive number of events that all affected demand for holidays.

The volcanic ash cloud, the tied UK election, the coalition, its emergency budget, austerity measures, impending public sector job cuts and BA strikes have all hampered demand in the travel industry, and delayed people making travel plans.

For a year in which the travel industry had expected a return to growth and increased availability accordingly, this rash of bad luck has led to massive availability in the late bookings segment.

Because of this people are getting discounts of up to 40% on holidays, with availability especially high on trips to Spain, Greece and other destinations on the Med. Discounts will go as high as 60% for those booking after the summer holidays.

Clare Banham, from the travel association Abta, said: "We have seen that a lot of people have delayed booking their holidays this year. The vast majority are still travelling, but booking closer to departure. People are getting fantastic value for money."

The Co-Operative Travel said the biggest savings were in the eastern Mediterranean - Paphos, Crete, Zante and Turkey in particular. "We reckon the typical family holiday to these places has fallen by 13.5% on last year - that's a £232 saving for the average family," said a spokesman.

"Certainly the booking patterns have changed. This has been an unprecedented year for the travel industry."

Turkey is a strange one, because recent data showed that tourism to Turkey is growing strongly. According to Turkish property agent Spot Blue this is because of growth in other markets. The firm said on their blog:

"Although it isn't odd, because figures have revealed markets like Russia and those in the Middle East making up for any lull in British travellers."

Spot Blue is currently marketing property in Turkey from £25,000.

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