Latest trends on charming and luxury holidays

The worldwide economic crisis doesn’t seem to have stopped charming holidays. A recent Italian market research on charming and luxury holidays trends analyzed the travel industry in France, Italy, Holland, Spain, United Kingdom and also some non-European countries such as Brazil and China.

The research shows that the luxury travel industry is in a very good shape: 78% of interviewed travel agencies said they sold luxury travels and 51% said they sold more than 4 luxury travels a year per customer.

Luxury travellers don’t want only luxury accommodations, they also want journeys and holidays rich in activities and things to do in exclusive locations. That is why they tend to choose Tour Operators that offer tailor made holidays and customizable packages which include history, nature and other activities for a unique experience.

Italy is the top destination for this kind of holidays since it combines art and culture to the possibility of playing many outdoor sports and much more.

The “hottest” months are December, July and August and the average stay is generally above 10 days. Customers’ budget is between 5,000 and 10,000 Euros, but with differences for each country.

People from United Kingdom can spend even more than 10,000 Euros for a luxury holiday, while people from China and Spain spend “only” 5,000 Euros. Italians spend between 5,000 and 10,000 Euros.

The research shows that tourists are different not only for the destination they choose, but also for their booking habits. For example, Brazilian and Dutch travellers tend to book their holidays well in advance, 3 to 6 month earlier, while travellers from China, Germany and France make their reservation generally one month to 14 days before the departure. Las minute holidays are particularly popular among French and British travellers.

Travellers from all of the analyzed countries seem to prefer “packages” i.e. travel, hotel, local excursions included in the price of the holiday. The most wanted luxury destinations are Europe, Polynesia, Maldives, Caribbean, Dubai, South Africa.

The research also highlights that luxury travellers have similar profiles: aged between 36 and 55, they travel usually with a partner. Women do 61% of reservations because of their attraction for exclusivity and luxury destinations. All travellers seem to love Spas and thermal centres in Italy, Germany, France and Spain, but travellers from UK seem to prefer gastronomy to body care.

The choice of the holiday is often based on suggestions from friends or family (41%), but also on reviews found on the Internet (27%), radio, press and television account for 8% of holiday choices.