Expensive groceries, high energy bills and other forms of inflation take a big bite out of our holiday budget. And that’s why we’re going less far from home next year and we’re ignoring the expensive attractions more often. At least that is what Goof Lukken predicts, leisure expert and lecturer at the Breda University of Applied Sciences. Inquiries show that amusement parks do not (yet) have any plans to entice people to visit with discount campaigns.
Lukken writes this in his annual preview of upcoming leisure trends.
“Inflation has a major influence on our holiday behaviour, which we can already see in our spending. Our budgets are getting lower, so many people have less money left over to spend on holidays. Large multi-day tours abroad are really becoming something for the happy few Luke explains.
Instead, we stay closer to home or even all the way home. Jokingly also called ‘Rund um Hause’, but there is now a new term for it. Lukken: “Yes, the ‘staycation’. During the corona crisis, many people – because we mainly had to stay indoors – invested in their home. And with all the digitization, we can now also bring a lot of entertainment into our homes.”
We also look for free or cheap destinations in the area. “This includes walking and cycling, but with matching experience routes, such as ‘ The Black Catat Bladel. But also places of interest, such as churches, castles or monuments.
Lukken expects attractions and recreation companies to respond to the smaller stock market. “Those companies really need to look more consciously at their prices. They will have to offer discounts again, such as early bird discounts and savings campaigns in collaboration with supermarkets.”
But at Efteling they don’t have those plans yet. Spokesperson Nina Hawinkels: “Of course we already have our discount promotions for the Winter Efteling and the Seven Miles Summer.” The cheapest ticket for the theme park in Kaatsheuvel remains unchanged at 38 euros per person.
Recreation company RCN, which also owns holiday park De Flaasbloem near Chaam, has no plans for additional price reductions for the time being. Sammy from customer service: “We do have our year-end banger with a discount if you book your stay with us early. We don’t have any other price reductions planned.”
Leisure company Libema, owner of the Beekse Bergen, among others, has not yet been able to respond to the question of whether it will implement additional price reductions.
Goof Lukken remains positive about the opportunities for attractions and holiday parks: “The future for the hospitality industry and tourism still looks bright. However, consumers will become more critical of the price-quality ratio. Enjoyment and meeting each other live will remain a first necessity of life, especially because the Dutch like to escape the reality of inflation, war and energy crisis.”