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The recent annual industry report from Specialist Holidays Group
(SHG), the division of TUI that includes Crystal Ski, Thomson Ski
and Simply Ski, showed the overall ski market grew by 6% in 2003/03
to over one million holidaymakers.
Although AC Neilson had previously
reported the market to be down by 13%, SHG argues that the tour
operator sector increased 1%, with year on year growth in the independent
sector reaching 21%.
Will independent holidaymakers ‘rue the day’?
The travel industry is currently tetchy about independent travel,
which is eating up the package holiday share of all holidays on
a yearly basis. ABTA president John Harding has gone as far to suggest
that that ‘we need a disaster’ like a ‘no-frills carrier collapse’.
SHG vociferously defend the package holiday, suggesting that holidaymakers
will ‘rue the day’ they booked an unbonded holiday. They also claim
that DIY packages ‘more than likely’ will not secure a cheaper holiday.
Reps are vital
Whether this is correct in a world where information and costs are
easy to find on the Internet, there can be no doubt that SHG are
correct about representation.
While Natives, as experienced season workers, may not need this
support, most holidaymakers do. SHG suggest that one downfall of
most independent travel is that if disaster does strike, there is
no resort rep there to assist.
Fly ‘Carbon Neutral’
The report coincides with the launch of the new Crystal Ski brochure,
which is notable for the promotion of ‘carbon neutral’ holidays.
These are offered through Future Forests, a company promoted
by Natives earlier this year. It is a profit making company,
not a charity, but offers holidaymakers a genuine opportunity to
offset the emissions caused by flights taken - one of the major
contributors to global warming.
Research show 85% of British tourists believe it is important not
to damage the environment, but very few of us do anything about
it, particularly in relation to flights. Congratulations to Crystal
for this innovation – let’s hope lots of their customers take it
up'.
SHG REPORT STATS
SHG Rankings By Operator
1. Crystal 133,000 (-2%)
2. Inghams 100,000 (+5%)
3. First Choice 77,000 (+5%)
4. Thomson 77,000 (No change)
5. Neilson 55,000 (No change)
6. Panorama 45,000 (+2%) |
SHG Rankings By Country
1. France (37%)
2. Austria (19%)
3. Italy (16%)
4. Andorra (14%)
5. North America (6%)
6. Switzerland (5%)
7. Others (3% ) |
Notes
- 35% of all Canadian visits were to Whistler
- North America is predicted to benefit from weak Dollar v Euro
- Good snow from last year will lift confidence
- Figures are based on the absolute number of holidaymakers and
not bed nights
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