Tourists Seek Novel Experiences on Holiday
Holidaymakers are broadening their horizons when planning their trips away, opting for travel that will educate and edify them rather than simply satisfy a need for hot weather.
Market research analysts Mintel have seen a dip in demand for the typical beach holiday and a rise in enquiries for city breaks to historic locations of interest. Senior travel and tourism analyst Tom Rees told Travel Weekly: “An increasing number of UK holidaymakers are turning away from fly and flop holidays.”
Of the 2,000 adults polled by Mintel, over a third believed that acquainting themselves with some local knowledge of the area, be it history or a local custom was an important part of the holiday experience.
20 per cent of the sample said they liked to pick a new skill whilst on holiday pertinent to the area, whilst 60 per cent revealed that they had visited a museum in the last three years.
Interesting and unusual activities whilst on holiday are becoming more popular with British travellers. Brits are taking France holidays to learn cookery skills in French cuisine, and taking Caribbean holidays in order to learn how to dance authentic Salsa. Dance, photography and cookery were the three fastest growing holiday experiences according to the Mintel statistics.
As Mr Rees went on to explain: “Factors such as the increasing number of specialist products, more active holidays, the internet, and the expansion of low-cost air travel have created demand for new destinations and novel experiences.” According to the survey 13 per cent of respondents had learnt a new skill whilst on holiday.
City Break Destinations News posted by Burt Ernstein on 14 September 2009
