Should you travel, or — with given geopolitical developments — would it be better to stay home? Until recently, DERTOUR operators— like the rest of the industry — were still seeing some hesitation when it came to winter bookings. But that seems to be over now.
Winter Vacation: The Waiting Game Is Over
Recently, the number of bookings for the winter season has been picking up significantly again. Half of all bookings made with our tour operators are for long-haul destinations, and flexible travel options and unique experiences are very much in vogue. Here’s an overview of the highlights from the new itineraries
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New bookings are picking up significantly
Overall, guest numbers for the coming winter are still below those of the previous year — a trend we’re seeing across the entire market. For about a month now, however, we’ve been seeing a significant increase in weekly bookings from our tour operators, which are often even in the double digits compared to the strong figures from the previous year. The wait-and-see phase is over,
and the desire to travel is taking hold, says Boris Raoul. We are therefore very optimistic about the coming months of bookings for the winter season.
About:
Boris Raoul
CEO DERTOUR Germany and Austria, CTO DERTOUR Group
A Dream Vacation on the Red Sea at the Sentido Reef Oasis Suakin Resort
The Trends: Thailand, Egypt — and Lots of Individuality
“Most of the incoming bookings are currently for Thailand and Egypt, followed by the Indian Ocean and the Canary Islands. DERTOUR’s team is also observing trends in travel styles: Long-haul trips, flexible travel options, and unique experiences are shaping demand for the coming winter. Today, travelers want to tailor their vacations more closely to their personal interests. We’re responding to this trend by strategically expanding our offerings,
says Boris Raoul, CEO of DERTOUR Germany and Austria.
DERTOUR’s new winter programs, ITS, and Meiers Weltreisen, therefore feature not only classic sun destinations in the medium and long-haul segments but also customizable round-trip tours, new offers for solo travelers, and special winter experiences such as Northern Lights tours, active vacations, and gourmet getaways. In addition, the tour operators are continuing to expand their hotel portfolios in many destination regions, such as Asia, Africa, and the classic winter sun destinations around the Mediterranean and in Egypt. Long-haul travel specialist Meiers Weltreisen is adding several largely undiscovered destinations to its program, such as El Salvador, Angola, the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius, and the island of St. Helena, located far out in the South Atlantic.
Save up to 45 percent with early-bird discounts
Consumers continue to pay close attention to value for money and planning” “We expect demand for early-bird discounts to remain high again this winter, with savings of up to 45%,” he said. “We expect demand for early-bird discounts to remain high again this winter, with savings of up to 45%,” he said.spanu003e” discounts, which can save travelers up to 45 percent this coming winter,” says Sven Schikarsky, Managing Director of Product at DERTOUR Germany. In addition to the price advantage, booking early offers a wider selection of hotels, flight options, and room categories. Many of our guests appreciate that.
For added peace of mind when planning, many early bookers opt for the optional Flex Package, which offers expanded cancellation and rebooking options. This allows travelers to remain flexible in the event of unforeseen changes.
Southern Africa is seeing above-average growth in demand for winter travel
Up-and-Coming Destinations: Places Focused on Nature, Active Recreation, and Adventure
Several destinations in Asia are experiencing particularly dynamic growth in long-haul travel, including Japan—which has seen a veritable boom in recent years—and Indonesia, particularly Bali. Demand for travel to Southern Africa is also growing at an above-average rate, due in part to the rising popularity of self-drive tours and an attractive exchange rate. On short- and medium-haul routes, current rising stars include Norway—thanks to its attractive pricing trends and diverse winter activities—as well as Morocco, where interest in Marrakesh is particularly high. Germany is experiencing especially strong growth, having already been among the most-booked destinations last winter. Upper Bavaria, the Harz Mountains, and the Baltic Sea are particularly popular here. These rising destinations thus underscore the findings of the DERTOUR Travel Trend Report: destinations offering nature, active pursuits, and unique experiences continue to gain in importance.
