We seem to be rolling from one crisis to another. After the corona crisis, we have been in a purchasing power crisis for a few months now. Nevertheless, there seems to be enough room in the household books to make up for missed holidays. Brabant travel agencies indicate that they are even busier than before the corona crisis.
“Demand continues to be high,” says Jeroen van Sprang of Del Monde Reizen in Heeze. “People really want to go on vacation and they absolutely want to go now.”
TravelXL in Geldrop also experienced a storm this summer, as TravelXL travel agent Melanie Martens says: “We have been extremely busy, you can tell that everyone was really ready for a holiday. Plans are already being made for next summer.”
The same applies to Travel Agency Trips in Asten and Travel Service Best. “People don’t seem to be saving on holidays yet,” says Doreth Berkvens of Trips. It is also still busy at Travel Service Best, travel agent Anneke Weijnen suspects that this is because a lot has been saved during the corona crisis. “We are now even busier than before corona.”
hibernate
An often heard statement by travel agencies is that it is now cheaper to spend the winter in a sunny country than to stay at home and wait for a peppery energy bill. “A man bought a ticket for his South American wife. He joked that it was cheaper than heating their house in the Netherlands because it is so cold here,” Berkvens says.
Yet the travel agencies do not see more winter visitors than in previous years. Martens would understand: “For 1100 euros you can go away for four weeks, so in principle it sounds logical. But we don’t see an increase yet.” She does have an anecdotal example: “My parents are now going away for six weeks instead of three.”
So a playful solution, but probably no more than that. Berkvens expects that the ‘regular’ overwinterers, especially retirees, will keep their hands on the purse strings this winter. “They are having a hard time now.”
Now still affordable
It does not appear that travel is now only reserved for the highest income. “A very diverse group of people still go on holiday, from students on a skiing holiday to families in the sun,” says Berkvens. According to Martens, it doesn’t matter to most that it costs more. “I notice that customers could do with a bit more luxury.”
And the holidays have indeed become considerably more expensive, which makes this hunger for travel even more remarkable. According to Van Sprang, the price increase will not affect the number of travelers who have booked with Del Monde.
“The autumn holiday is very popular, despite the fact that it is becoming more expensive because of the crowds.” He does expect prices to rise further, “because the travel industry has to become more sustainable in all aspects and that bill ultimately ends up with the travelers.” According to Martens, the high prices will ultimately have a negative impact on the travel industry. “It will be more difficult for Jan Modaal to go on holiday.”