Despite a Q1 That’s in the Red, 2015 Looks OK for UK: The latest monthly report from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) corroborates the First Quarter 2015 arrivals report issue last week by the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). That is, the ONS data show that departures to North America (the U.S. is the dominant market) fell by 2.3 percent, while NTTO data indicate a slightly larger year-on-year decline in the First Quarter of 3.4 percent.
However, departures for the next four months showed enough of an increase that the year-to-date (through July) figure is 4.3 percent greater than it was for the first seven months of the year in 2014. Further easing the impact of the Q1 decline is the fact that the First Quarter comprises the smallest quarterly volume for departures of the four quarters.
UK Departures for North America
January-July
2014 vs. 2015
(000s)
| Month | 2014 | 2015 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 238 | 236 | 0% |
| February | 155 | 191 | 23% |
| March | 226 | 178 | -21% |
| April | 323 | 290 | -10% |
| May | 289 | 350 | 24% |
| June | 330 | 340 | 3% |
| July | 293 | 350 | 16% |
| Year-to-date total | 1,854 | 1,935 | 4.30% |
Source: UK Office for National Statistics (ONC)
For the Same Price, Reed Offers a Three-Day WTM instead of a Four-Day WTM: Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced that, beginning next year, delegates to its World Travel Market in London will be able to pay the same prices it charges buyers, exhibitors and others to attend the event as it is charging this year. And, in return, it will reduce the event from a four-day show to a three day show.
This year’s WTM takes place on Nov. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The 2016 WTM will operate Nov. 7, 8 and 9.
Opening hours will be extended from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for all three days. The announcement is not entirely a surprise. Surveys of WTM delegates have indicated dissatisfaction with the fourth day of the show as one of little value for both exhibitors and buyers, as consumers stroll the aisles of the ExCel and real business opportunities are limited.
Brits Like to Hang with One Another, Not Locals, When on Holiday: From the responses of more than 3,000 of its customers to a Holiday Hypermarket questionnaire, we have just learned that:
—More than 80 percent of the people surveyed said that they had made friends during their last vacation
—66 percent said that they had made friends with other British tourists who were visiting the same destination.
—17 percent of respondents said that they socialized with local people during their holiday.
—17 percent said that they spent time with European tourists who were not from Great Britain.
—One of every four people surveyed claimed that they spent time socializing with people who worked in the place where they were staying.
—Just 3 percent of Hypermarket’s travelers developed friendships with people traveling with children.
