Packaged trips – what’s hot in 2016

TRAFALGAR sales in
South Africa have
increased 16% from
last year, despite the
weakened rand. The tour
operator is noticing several
emerging trends with regard
to packaged tours, Trafalgar
product manager Liesa
Bissett told TNW.
A big trend is being able
to stay connected. “People
want to stay in touch with
friends and family back
home so, by providing guests
with free WiFi on board our
guided coaches, we are
allowing them the freedom
to communicate,” says
Liesa.
Trafalgar has also created
an app that allows travellers
to preregister prior to
travel and meet their fellow
travellers beforehand.
Another trend the tour
operator is seeing is demand
for responsible travel.
“South Africans in general
care about the environment,”
says Liesa. “Trafalgar takes
travellers into communities
where they can engage with
and support local artisans.”
South Africans are also
resilient and the tour
operator is still seeing
demand for destinations
where there has been
unrest, for example
Egypt and Beirut and,
most recently, Paris.
“South Africans want to
travel and are putting their
fears aside.”
Trafalgar predicts that visits
to Italy will increase next
year. “The Pope declared
2016 a Holy Year, which
means pilgrims have their
own separate door into the
Vatican. This will see a large
influx of visitors to Italy next
year,” she says.
There has been a
noticeable increase in South
Africans wanting to travel to
Spain and Portugal. “These
two Iberian destinations offer
incredible value for money
and a lot of interesting
history,” says Liesa.
“Apart from the price factor,
as well as the flexibility due
to less sightseeing being
included, many young people
are drawn to art, history and
the different cultures, and
guided holidays are a great
way to enjoy these, while
they have the freedom and
flexibility to go off on their
own too,” says Trafalgar md,
Theresa Szejwallo.
She says not all young
people are looking to party
on their holiday, and many
have a genuine interest for
the finer things in life.