Are cheap flights killing the UK holiday market

by **HW iaintwoeyes** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:54 am

There's quite a bit of press at the moment saying that cheap flights to foreign destinations is killing the UK tourist market.

Cheap flights going to the sunshine of the med and further are so cheap that people aren't even looking at the UK as a serious destination because basically, they can holiday in Spain for less than the UK!

Whats your thoughts?

by **pigtails** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:15 am

I think it must be having an effect on UK tourism. We go abroad for the sun and nice hotels and cheaper food but we do have at least one week in Scotland or England, still to get to Wales. We find our weeks away are actually cheaper than the one we spend here. The good thing about holidaying here is no long waits at airports or flights sitting next to the child from hell. I noticed that one of the hotel chains wanted VAT put on to flights to make them more expensive.

by **Honey Bunny** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:52 pm

I also think the weather has a lot to do with it look at last years wash out summer!
Plus as mentioned before it cost so much to eat out here and stay in a hotel even if it is a flea pit in blackpool!
I would much rather spend my money going abroad.
Its to cold for swimming in Blackpool sea and its too dirty!
Also we go to see architecture and history as well as speaking other languages which is educational.
I dont really agree with dirt cheap flights like for a quid etc because they encourage to much air travel , but everyone should be entitled to one holiday abroad a year at least. I would like to see the package hol industry disappear because of cheap flights too.
Package industry works quite well as it is People with too much money book early and pay more and dont care and then the rest can get the cheaper late deals for bargain prices because they have already made enough from the rest.

by **Honey Bunny** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:54 pm

Sorry thats I WOULDN'T like to see the Package industry disappear!

by **Willself** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:25 pm

1 think its true to say.....the Package Market is DEAD..at least on the High Street.
Not having used a package market deal for 15years now!! can't say i miss it.
While cheap flights fuel Holidays in the med,and further afield. Probably the number one reason why people fly to these Destinations is because they own a second home!!
Guess even if we enjoyed reasonable weather here...few people across Europe own second homes here!!

by **tom,s** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:13 pm

ok heres the reason the uk holiday market is dying a death,

nairn lochloy holiday park,2weeks in july in a static caravan sleeping 4 to 6 price 21 Jul 2008 - �1,238.00, on top of that you have to get there by car,rail or bus.

in my case i would drive there from berwick upon tweed it would take 6 hours and cost �100 in petrol for a return journey and thats not including siteseeing when on holiday there.

and you still have food and drink to buy.

the alternative is 2 weeks in spain half board for 2 people.

costa del sol
Your holiday price: �1,210.00 which one would you choose and you get the sun thrown in,what a bargain.

by **Willself** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:20 pm

Well TOM.

1 am staggered by those prices...Even your Spanish Holidays seems expensive, or are you talking 2 weeks, plus car hire, and all meals!!

Just returned from Lanzarote..First two weeks of the New Year at a 5*star resort.
including car hire less than One Thousand Pounds.

by **tom,s** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:36 pm

no wilself it is a 2 week holiday on half board,i wasnt trying to buy a cheap hol all i was trying to do is show why the uk hol market is dying.

if you had a choice of a caravan hol in scotland and a holiday in spain for nearly the same price which one would you choose.

i was in lanz from 10 til 24 jan and got a good deal,4 of us s/c at �182 per person including flights.tom.

by ***+*Missy J *+*** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:16 pm

Weather - -- You can count on the sunshine abroad.

Atmosphere - After going to Turkey , everyone is so friendly even the guys hug and kiss each other on the cheek to say hello ! Like you'd see that here. People happy to help , hardly seen any fights when out in the evenings.

Cost - the holiday cost is cheaper , we paid �150 for 2 wks b&B before. Also mostly everything else food drink etc is cheaper out there.

Depends what holiday your looking for every one is different, but id would choose abroad over here any day.

Sunseeker me

Jennnnnnnnnnn

by **Honey Bunny** on Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:32 pm

Good points Missy J about not being able to go out here and sit in a bar without seeing drunken louts or fighting, and of course the atmosphere is totally different abroad.
We usually pay around 1200-1400 for two weeks in Greece (Whit Half term fortnight) or canaries for five of us self catering. Then it is cheaper to eat out when abroad.