OAG Reports Global Airline Capacity Up 4% In December 2009
December 30, 2009
Low Cost Sector Continues to Show Growth with Frequencies and Capacity Up 10%
CHICAGO, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ — Global airline capacity for December 2009 shows positive growth compared to December 2008, reports OAG, (www.oagaviation.com ) the world’s leading aviation data business with its monthly report on trends in the supply of airline flights and seats. There are 294.8 million seats available this month, a rise of 4% over December 2008 levels. Global frequencies are up 1% compared to December 2008, with a total of 2.4 million flights scheduled for December 2009, despite an average North American frequency decline of 2%. Worldwide, frequencies and capacity in the low cost sector are both up by 10% compared to a year ago, accounting for 444,539 flights (18%) and 65.6 million seats (22%).
John Weber, senior vice president OAG Aviation, said, “Global capacity continues to rise, boosted by worldwide increases in both frequency and capacity in the low cost sector, which would tend to show us that travelers are choosing to fly airlines that offer more economical choices. This increase in December 2009 capacity recovers the global pull-down of minus 10 million scheduled seats in 2008 and brings us back to the pre-crisis level of December 2007, but the characteristics of many markets have fundamentally changed,” Weber continued.
Analysis of major routes reveals that frequency and capacity on certain routes reflect positive growth, while others are showing strong decreases. Leading the growth is traffic between Western Europe and Africa with an increase of 19% (3,883) in the number of flights and an 18% increase in seats (710,129). However, between Western Europe and North America there is a 9% decrease in the number of flights and an 8% decrease in the number of seats.
Frequency and capacity between North America and Central/South America are up 5% compared to December 2008. A hubs analysis shows that Beijing has seen an impressive 10% increase in the number of flights and a 9% increase in seats, while Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport shows a negative growth of 6% in the number of flights and a 4% reduction in capacity. A similar trend can be seen for other major European hubs, with flights at Amsterdam Schiphol down 7% and seats down 6%.
The month-by-month trend since the start of the economic downturn can be seen in chart format at http://www.oagaviation.com/trends-chart-dec09.jpg.
The figures are revealed in the December 2009 edition of OAG FACTS (Frequency & Capacity Trend Statistics), the dynamic monthly market intelligence tool providing the latest data on current passenger airline activity around the world.
OAG FACTS uses interactive graphs to display a visual trend of the performance of a specific airport, route, country or region from 2001 onwards, sourced from OAG’s consolidated database of global airline schedules. A more detailed review of this month’s OAG FACTS statistics – including information about specific regions, routes and airports with illustrative charts and graphs – is available to download at http://www.oagaviation.com/aviation-reports/reports-facts-1209.htm.
OAG, based in London, Chicago and Singapore, collects and distributes the most accurate and complete global aviation intelligence.
SOURCE UBM Aviation
Intrepid launches agent-only web site
December 30, 2009
Adventure travel specialist Intrepid Travel has unveiled a dedicated web site for North American travel agents. Found at http://www.intrepidagent.com , the site is multi-functional and will not only track individual agent’s sales, but offer product quizzes — complete with prizes — free downloadable marketing resources, details on new promotions (such as the Aeroplan promotion where customers can earn 500 Aeroplan Miles on bookings over $1,000), and provide a link to each agent’s BDM.
Plus, agents will earn fun awards for booking with Intrepid. Cumulative annual sales under $5,000 (Bronze level) will earn a handy little phone detangler. Reach the Silver level ($5,000 mark) and get an Intrepid water bottle; Gold status ($10,000) earns a nifty set of packing cubes; while sales hitting $15,000 will earn agents a solar charger. And at the top level of $25,000, agents receive a flip camcorder.
“Though we’ve been present in the North American market for only 18 months, we’re so pleased to see the support we’re getting from our agents,” says Steven Larkin president, North America for Intrepid. “It’s clear they love the diversity of product we have and our belief in sustainable travel – and we love working with them.” Intrepid offers more than 650 itineraries to over 120 countries, with durations from as short as a few hours to as long as six months.
To join the program, contact your BDM (in Eastern North America, it’s Katie Olsson at kolsson@intrepidtravel.com or for Western North America, it’s Kate Rosen at krosen@intrepidtravel.com) for your username and password.
Wanderlust Consulting Adds Vietnam’s Easia Travel to Portfolio
December 30, 2009
Editor’s Note: In an open letter to the adventure travel trade, ATTA Member Wanderlust Consulting introduces its newest client, Easia Travel, Ltd., based in Hanoi, Vietnam:
“Leo Le Bon, co-founder of the premier adventure travel company Mountain Travel Sobek, and President of Wanderlust Consulting, is honored and pleased to introduce to the North America travel industry, EASIA TRAVEL, Ltd, a leading Indochina inbound DMC with 10 years experience, with headquarters in Hanoi, and offices in Laos and Cambodia. (Philippe Richard, co-founder of Easia Travel, attended the Summit in Quebec in October 2009).
Wanderlust Consulting will be supporting Easia Travel marketing and sales in North America. We have had extensive first hand travel experience with Easia Travel, and know well their management team, so we feel that we can highly recommend their outstanding professional services, transacted on a business-to-business basis only. We believe that Easia can deliver superior service at very competitive prices, offering NET confidental tariffs to the industry.
While we are aware that you may already operate programs in Indochina, we would kindly ask for a moment of your time to review Easia’s website and the presentation below:
http://www.vietnam-incentive.com/downloads/PPS_HTML/vietnam_files/frame.htm
(This link can only be opened with Windows Explorer. It does not work with Mozilla Firefox or Google.)
You will find that Easia has a variety of options for unique cultural and soft adventure programs to complement currently available offerings on the open market. Easia currently manages over 10,000 inbound passengers from European tour operators and now has made the decision to enter the US market.
Please feel free to contact them direct at america@easia-travel.com, or give us a call and we will be able to assist you with any question or request for a quote for specific itineraries.
Leo and Nadia Le Bon
Wanderlust Consulting
Berkeley, CA – 510-524-2609
nadialebon@wanderlustconsulting.com
New Study Sparks Adaptation Strategies for Adventure Tourism Companies Coping with Climate Change
December 30, 2009
Newly published research — Adventure Tourism Companies & Climate Change: Observations from the Himalaya, Amazon, and Polar Regions Spark Adaptation Strategies for Business — is available now in PDF format (Download now, 2.9mb: click here) and offers management and business practices for sustaining adventure travel businesses in sensitive environments affected by climate change. With international media buzzing on the topic, as a result of the UN Climate Change Conference 2009 (COP15) in Copenhagen, this report provides valuable research and actionable solutions for some of the first to be affected by climate change: adventure traveler operators.
The following preface to the study is offered by Editor and Adjunct Research Supervisor, Christina Heyniger, of Xola Consulting, who remains committed to observing and following trends and changes in the adventure industry and will continue to publish on this subject in the coming years:
In contrast to leisure tourism, where more emphasis may be placed on man-made settings, adventure tourism’s business model is thoroughly exposed to the slightest environmental changes.
Adventure tour operators, with products and services that depend on healthy natural environments, have a regular and direct connection to important environmental issues such as climate change.
Given that the broader tourism industry has mainly focused on adaptation strategies for two major travel sectors so far — coastal island and ski tourism – we felt it was worthwhile to examine the smaller players in remote environments.
Anticipated Benefit/Outcome of this Research: This research offers management and business practices for sustaining adventure travel businesses in sensitive environments affected by climate change.
We believe that while adventure tour operators may respond to climate impacts in varying ways depending on their location of their operations, they can apply similar business practices to cope with its effects. We hope that by sharing this research, adventure companies will continue learning from each others’ experiences.
A case study approach was used to examine operators in three different regions: polar, mountain and tropical forest.
Three companies agreed to participate in this study:
■ Snow Leopard Adventures; Uttarkhand, India
■ Quark Expeditions; Arctic and Antarctic
■ Amazon Tree Climbing; Manaus, Brazil
Findings:
The overall trend that we observe is that climate change has not yet had a significant effect on the polar or tropical region adventure tour operators interviewed, but has affected tour operations in India’s Himalaya mountain region slightly more. All of the companies interviewed are implementing operational and management focus towards climate change adaptation.
Study Contributors: This paper was developed by Cambridge University student Ryan Piotrowski in collaboration with Christina Heyniger of Xola Consulting – who served as the study’s Editor and Adjunct Research Supervisor – from June – September 2009. Special thanks is given to Parth Joshi from Snow Leopard Adventures, Ltd, New Delhi, Bill Davis, Francesco Contini and Prisca Campbell of Quark Expeditions and Eduardo Cunha of Amazon Tree Climbing for so generously sharing their time, experiences, and field observations.
Executive Summary
With their close relationship to the environment, adventure tourism companies feel and react to climate impacts to different degrees depending on location, but can follow similar business practices to cope with its effects. Common strategic, operational and marketing practices can be used to reduce business threats and take advantage of business opportunities as a result of climate change. As climate change effects become more prevalent and pronounced, companies need to proactively engage in adaptation, moving beyond a corporate responsibility mindset to the application of strategies to manage its business impacts. In reviewing the various adaptation methods currently applied, a general adaptive framework emerges for making climate change part of business and operational strategy.
Data gathered in interviews with three adventure tour companies in different environments — polar, mountain, and tropical forest — reveal ideas for specific climate adaptation techniques and strategic guidance for other adventure tour companies and the tourism industry in general. The interviewed companies’ practices indicate that some adaptation methods for increased extreme weather events have always been practiced, while the long-term impacts of climate change have not significantly affected operations and strategy.
The graphic below summarizes the climate effect companies highlighted in this paper can expect to experience over time. The companies participating in this study are a polar cruise company that operates in the Arctic and Antarctic, a Himalayan- based adventure company, and a tree climbing operator in the Amazon. A brief review of climate change in the interviewed companies’ specific regions is provided along with a discussion of each region’s general climate conditions.
Surprisingly, we observe that climate change has not yet caused significant changes in business for the polar or tropical region tour operators interviewed, but has affected tour operations in the Himalayan mountain region of Uttarakhand, India. Regardless, all of the companies interviewed are beginning preparation to adapt through education and training, while slight itinerary changes have been a response to any existing climate impacts. Subtle differences between the companies are highlighted to provide insight towards future adaptation techniques.
Our research indicates that while adventure tour operators may not be adapting as rapidly as we expected to climate change, opportunities and threats from climate change need to be understood and managed as soon as possible. Strategy, operations and marketing highlight some initial areas for discussion around climate change adaptation. In order to adapt to climate change an Adventure Tourism Climate Change Adaptation model is recommended for the adventure travel industry based on existing models, interview findings. Adventure travel companies must proactively and dynamically engage in strategic adaptation to climate change in order to sustain their business.
Planeterra Announces New Global Voluntour Travel Opportunities
December 29, 2009
From Panda Reserve in Sichuan Province to Africa’s Cape Peninsula
TORONTO – Voluntourism’s global specialist, Planeterra, announces new 2010 projects and volunteer vacations including onsite work at the world’s largest Panda reserve in China’s Sichuan Province and a bring-the-kids family adventure on an organic farm along the coast of Ecuador.
Planeterra’s Director, Richard G. Edwards said that more than ever, “community development, environmental and wildlife conservation projects around the world need the support of active travelers who are willing to take the time to understand what is needed and how they can help. Our programs are designed with great care, so that everyone genuinely benefits, while having fun learning about each other’s cultures.”
Of the eleven new programs for 2010, five are Independent Tours, which provide optimum flexibility for travelers (projects in Argentina, Brazil, Peruvian Amazon, Ecuadorian Highlands and Project Cuzco Kids). These trips depart weekly, throughout the year, and can be easily combined with other adventure travel tours booked through founding partner, Gap Adventures. 2010 also brings Planeterra’s launch of family programs with a new voluntour in Ecuador.
Travelers who volunteer can sign up for a small group pre-set departure or join a more flexible Independent Tour. Planeterra’s style of voluntourism combines time spent at a community project (usually a minimum of four days) with adventure travel opportunities exploring the surrounding countryside. Except for international air, a volunteer vacation averages $85 per day and includes most meals, double or shared group accommodations, local transportation, instruction, equipment and guidance as needed, plus escorted adventure tours before and/or after project work. Some trips are priced considerably less, depending on the location and additional services.
Planeterra’s 11 new projects for 2010 are located in The Americas, Asia and Africa bringing the total number of voluntourism projects offered to 20 worldwide. New for 2010:
Project Argentina
Work with Argentinean youth learning life skills in a subsistence farm environment. Well-known chefs from Buenos Aires connect and teach menu planning, food preparation and cooking skills.
Project Cuzco Kids
Meet youth at a drop in center with homework, teach English, help with the cooking, and participate in various workshops such as leather working and jewelry making.
Project Ecuador Family Adventure
Volunteer on an organic farm and at the environmental primary school in the coastal community of Rio Muchacho; enjoy a visit to the local market, canoeing and horseback riding too.
Project Ecuador Highlands
Help at a school or on the communal organic farm while living with an indigenous family. Activities include a guided tour to the Equator, Otavalo market, waterfalls and sacred lakes.
Project El Salvador
The hottest new eco-tourism destination! Work on a highland coffee farm and tour Mayan pyramids and colonial villages, surf pristine beaches and explore the jungle.
Project Galapagos
Help build an eco-playground out of recycled materials on the island of Santa Cruz.
Project Peru Amazon
Volunteer at a rehabilitation and conservation center for wild animals after traveling by motorized canoe up the Tambopata River to a remote jungle lodge.
Project China
The destination is Sichuan and volunteering at the largest Panda reserve in the world between visits to Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Beijing and the Great Wall.
Project Nepal
In the heart of the Kathmandu Valley, work on reforestation project, plant vegetable and herb gardens and help construct a community center while immersing yourself in local culture.
Project Cambodia and Laos
Explore the historical, sacred and scenic highlights of Cambodia and Laos helping construct a water well, plant trees and getting involved with child literacy initiatives.
Project South Africa and Overland Adventure
Get involved in various community projects around Cape Peninsula near Cape Town followed by bush walking in the Kalahari, canoeing in the Okavango Delta and visiting Victoria Falls.
Planeterra is a global non-profit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. Founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures, Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with them to arrange voluntour travel programs worldwide. For information on Planeterra’s year-round voluntour programs please go to:
http://www.planeterra.org/pages/voluntours/4.php or call 416-260-0999.
Widness & Wiggins PR
December 28, 2009
Established in April 2007, Widness & Wiggins PR offers a competitively priced, highly personalized media contact and communications strategy expressly designed for adventure, eco and active travel industry clients – tour operators, nonprofits, resorts and accommodations. Our story-telling approach is pro-active, aggressive, and multidimensional covering both traditional print, social media and new, expanding online outlets. Backed by media savvy, lifelong relationships with the press and a proven record of success, Sara Widness and Dave Wiggins are the ones delivering the results.
The world of print, online and broadcast media is a fast-paced, ever-noisy place. You want your story to be told but it’s a real challenge just being noticed. Going it alone rarely gets you anywhere. You need a loud and clear voice that’s recognized and respected by those influential members of the media most interested in what you have to say.
That’s the power of a successful public relations agency. Widness & Wiggins PR believes that the keys to success come down to sound relationships and clear, consistent messaging. Sara Widness and Dave Wiggins have spent their entire professional careers cultivating meaningful relationships with a full spectrum of travel, business, environmental and lifestyle writers, editors and authors who are anxious to hear your story. Most command positions of major influence on both the national and international stage. To rise above the clamor and noise, this is where you need to be.
Sara Widness has a proven record of extraordinary success in marketing communications and public relations. She began her career as an editor for several Vermont newspapers. She then served time as a reporter on the metro desk of United Press International in New York City. Sara has more than three decades of high-level public relations experience based in the Big Apple where her agency represented prestigious travel industry clients throughout the world. Recently she left the cacophony of life in the city to establish a B&B in the hills of southern Vermont. She holds an undergraduate degree in English literature with a minor in journalism from Stanford University.
Dave Wiggins brings over three decades of adventure travel industry experience to Widness & Wiggins PR. Recently he helped found and direct the prestigious travel alliance, Trusted Adventures. Prior to that, Dave served as Marketing Director for Austin-Lehman Adventures and Vice President of Supplier Relations for Away.com and GORPtravel. However, it was his 22 years as owner and President of American Wilderness Experience (AWE!) that first established him as an industry visionary. Under his direction, AWE! pioneered the wholesale and retail brokering of adventure travel in the late 1970’s becoming one of the industry’s most recognized brand names in the promotion and sale of active and exotic vacations. Dave is a graduate of Penn State University and has lived in Boulder, Colorado since 1974.
A New Vision: Science and Tourism under the Stars
December 23, 2009
Madrid and Canary Islands – The StarLight Tourism Certification System (Starlight Certification) was presented yesterday, 22 December, in a Press Conference held at UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) Headquarters in Madrid. It aims at bringing closer two key components of contemporary society: Science and Tourism.
On the one hand, in this recently opened post-Copenhagen era, it has become suddenly obvious that scientific facts per se will not mobilize political institutions. The outreach of science, its penetration of institutions and civil society have been shown essential.
On the other hand, tourism appears both as a victim and a vector of climate change. Irresponsible tourism will contribute more and more to CO2 emissions; in the end a negative backlash could affect tourism activities as whole.
But tourism can be an excellent vehicle for new ideas and responsible social behaviour. The right coupage of science and tourism could contribute to the global acceptance of the “new ways”, the “green economy” and the “global sustainable village”.
In this framework, the StarLight Certification sets a model for the use of Science both as a resource for tourism and an essential part of sustainable tourism practices. The StarLight Certification indicates that a tourism destination complies with a voluntary standard involving the preservation of nightscapes, including the night sky and the nocturnal bio-systems. Of course it is also concerned with energy conservation and with the use of natural and cultural resources at night time. It is a quality pre-condition for scientific activities in the certified destinations (especially Astronomy): in some cases for professional practitioners, but also importantly, for amateur scientists and students, and for the sensitization of important segments of the general public.
Some world-class destinations –in New Zealand, the Pacific, South America and Europe most notably—have already started to develop astronomy and nightscape-based tourism products and attractors. The task is now to set the criteria and the resulting standards for the optimization of this science-tourism experiences.
This is the raison-d’être of the StarLight Certification. It aims to ensure the quality of tourism experiences involving the nightscapes, the view of stars and the cosmos and the related scientific, cultural and environmental knowledge. This gives tourism a new dimension, aiming to foster its potential to create, disseminate and internalize knowledge and, especially, the very precious scientific knowledge necessary to guide as all in these times of urgent changes.
The StarLight Certification thus evaluates excellence in tourism management processes ensuring customer satisfaction, long-term sustainability and competitiveness and value for the communities, professionals and workers involved, along with night-sky quality and strategies aimed at providing high-ranking scientific knowledge experiences for the visitors and tourists.
The presentation of the StarLight Certification was carried out by Francisco Sánchez, Director of the Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands, Eduardo Fayos-Solà, Executive Secretary of the Education and Science Council, UNWTO-World Tourism Organization, Cipriano Marín, Coordinator of the StarLight Initiative and Antonio Gallardo, Director of the Fuerteventura Unesco Biosphere Reserve.
Tourism governance organizations world-wide with adequate nightscape characteristics and wishing to obtain more information on the StarLight Certification, should address their messages of interest to Mr. Cipriano Marin – Dr. Eduardo Fayos-Solà at certification@starlight-foundation.org
Cambodia—Paving the Way with More than Asphalt: Archaeological Institute of America Awards Site Preservation Grant to Heritage Watch
December 22, 2009
The Archaeological Institute of America awarded a Site Preservation Grant to Heritage Watch, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Southeast Asia’s cultural heritage, for a project in Cambodia. Heritage Watch will be working with Global Heritage Fund, which began a major development and conservation program at the archaeological site of Banteay Chhmar in 2008. The 12th century temple complex is overrun by jungle growth and plagued by looters. With new road improvements, the site is expected to become a major tourist attraction for those traveling from Thailand to Cambodia’s major archaeological attraction, Angkor Wat, located 165 kilometers to the southeast. Global Heritage Fund and Heritage Watch’s programs aim to ready the site for the increasing tourist numbers while helping members of the local community to support themselves through economic development initiatives that protect the site, rather than destroy it. Heritage Watch will use the award for community tourism development, guide training, and stewardship programs.
The Heritage Watch program is a response to economic development in the area. In an effort to reach the more inaccessible parts of the country, the Asian Development Bank is funding extensive road improvement in remote areas of northeast Cambodia, near the border with Thailand. While this will open up many economic opportunities for the region it endangers local archaeological sites that have seen little tourist activity. In many cases, the expansion of the tourism industry in developing nations does not address the needs of local residents, who see little profit from archaeological sites and thus do not feel compelled to maintain them. Locals sometimes turn to looting sites to support themselves and often there is little concern when site preservation programs instituted from afar fail. As a result, sites are destroyed forever, tourist numbers dwindle, and area residents still lack any means of long-term support.
Heritage Watch’s program at Banteay Chhmar is intended to ensure that the benefits of tourism development are filtered back into the local community and distributed appropriately amongst the resident stakeholders by implementing specialized training in English and guiding tours. Heritage Watch will have outreach programs open to the entire local community to increase awareness of the value of the site both as a part of their heritage and as a source of revenue in order to secure the long term protection of Banteay Chhmar.
About AIA Site Preservation Program and Grants
The AIA Site Preservation Program emphasizes outreach, education and the spread of best practices in site preservation. The Institute also supports preservation projects in Turkey, Easter Island, and Cyprus. In addition to grants, the program includes advocacy to stop the destruction of archaeological sites, informs U.S. Troop of cultural materials they may encounter while deployed, presents outreach activities for children, maintains online resources for the public and professionals, hosts workshops, and gives awards for best practices. All aspects of the program, including the awarding of grants, are made possible through donations to the AIA. To learn more, please visit archaeological.org/sitepreservation.
About Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)
Founded in 1879, The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is North America’s oldest and largest archaeological organization. Today, the AIA has nearly 200,000 members belonging to 107 local societies in the United States, Canada and overseas. The organization promotes public interest in the cultures and civilizations of the past, supports archaeological research, fosters the sound professional practice of archaeology, and advocates for the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage. The organization hosts archaeological fairs, lectures and other events throughout North America; publishes Archaeology magazine and the American Journal of Archaeology; awards fellowships and honors; and leads global archaeological travel excursions.
OpenTravel Launches the OpenTravel Forum
December 22, 2009
Editor’s Note: Long-time partners of the ATTA, the Open Travel Alliance, a community where companies in the electronic distribution supply chain work together to create an accepted structure for electronic messages, opened a new forum for professionals within the adventure travel sector to actively contribute to the dialogue. Below, please find OTA’s Executive Director Valyn Perini’s open invitation to participate:
“Members and friends of OpenTravel,
Over the years, hundreds of you have used the OpenTravel Implementers Forum to post your questions or comments about implementing OpenTravel schema. Built on the free Google Groups platform, this forum was technically unsophisticated and completely unmoderated by OpenTravel. It met a need, but had limited usefulness.
We’ve heard your requests for a more robust Forum to use as a resource for your implementations of OpenTravel schema, so we are delighted to announce the launch of the OpenTravel Forum.
Built on phpBB, a well-known open source bulletin board application, the OpenTravel Forum has all the functionality you’d expect from a full-featured discussion board, with forums for:
* Architecture
* Hospitality
* Transport
* Travel Services
* Tours and Activities
* Implementers Discussion
We’ve also included OpenTravel documentation, mailing list subscription, events and announcements, and feedback boards, as well as the OpenTravel Showcase where companies that provide tools, services or technologies to assist in the implementation of OpenTravel schemas can post about their offerings.
Best of all, for employees of OpenTravel member companies, several of the discussion forums are moderated by individuals who have in-depth experience with OpenTravel schema and their implementation in production environments. Members can post a question and get an answer from a moderator within 24 hours (Monday to Friday). For more details on forum moderation, check out the FAQs.
We hope you’ll take advantage of this tool to make your implementations of OpenTravel schema successful!
Please forward this email to anyone in your company who might be interested in this service.
Kind regards,
Valyn Perini”
_____________________
Ms. Valyn Perini
Executive Director
OpenTravel Alliance
+1 978 263 7606
www.opentravel.org
On Twitter: @valynp and @opentravel
On LinkedIn: OpenTravel Group
On Skype: valyn.perini
Five Online Travel Predictions for Europe in 2010
December 22, 2009
Sherman, Conn. USA — Europe may still be experiencing the effects of the recession, but online travel continues its upward march across the continent’s diverse and complex markets, according to travel industry research authority, PhoCusWright Inc. Changes in the economy and the travel industry have driven significant shifts in how consumers shop for and purchase travel. PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition analyzes the dynamics of online and offline travel distribution across Europe’s major travel markets.
Here are five predictions for the European online travel market in 2010 from the new report:
1. Online travel will account for more than one-third of the total European travel market.
While the total European travel market experiences a double-digit decline, online leisure and unmanaged business travel will in fact grow slightly in 2009. As effects of the recession linger into next year, consumers are increasingly shopping online for better deals. Online penetration will surge from 28% in 2008 to 34% by 2010.
2. Priceline could become the largest pan-European online travel agency (OTA).
Long in last place among the big four global OTAs (Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity being the other three), Priceline has gained ground dramatically since the onset of the recession and especially through the success of its main European acquisition, Booking.com. Amid Orbitz’ stumbles and Expedia’s catch-up play with Venere, Priceline is poised to become the number two OTA globally and quite possibly the largest OTA in Europe (although Expedia may have something to say about that…).
3. Metasearch will make it in Europe—finally.
The highly fragmented European online travel shopping landscape—among OTAs and suppliers—could prove fertile ground for metasearch. Uptake of meta in Europe has lagged behind the U.S., but the growing incidence of online shopping is driving more consumers to visit metasearch sites when they plan their travel.
4. Germany gains ground amid the recession.
The lumbering giant of Europe’s online travel market is picking up plenty of regional market share. The country’s strong cultural affinity for travel is helping prop up demand as other European markets falter. Germany’s share of the European online travel market will jump from 17% in 2008 to 20% by 2011. Gute Reise!
5. As larger markets mature, all eyes turn south—and east.
The largest European travel market, the U.K., has over 40% online penetration. France and Germany are catching up. Now that the low-hanging fruit is gone, the online travel industry is looking to opportunities in less penetrated Southern and Eastern European markets. Emerging markets like Poland offer perhaps the most promising opportunities for growth.
PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition and individual market reports for France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, and the U.K. provide data and analysis essential to understanding the dynamics of your market and forecasting the performance of your business. These reports are also included in PhoCusWright’s European Edition, an annual subscription-based research service providing travel industry data and analysis for Europe.
About PhoCusWright Inc.
PhoCusWright is the travel industry research authority on how travelers, suppliers and intermediaries connect. Independent, rigorous and unbiased, PhoCusWright fosters smart strategic planning and tactical decision-making.
PhoCusWright delivers qualitative and quantitative research on the evolving dynamics that influence travel, tourism and hospitality distribution. Our marketplace intelligence is the industry standard for segmentation, sizing, forecasting, trends, analysis and consumer travel planning behavior. Every day around the world, senior executives, marketers, strategists and research professionals from all segments of the industry value chain use PhoCusWright research for competitive advantage.
To complement its primary research in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia, PhoCusWright produces several high-profile conferences and trade shows in the U.S. and Germany, and partners with conferences in Canada, China and Singapore. Industry leaders and company analysts bring this intelligence to life by debating issues, sharing ideas and defining the ever-evolving reality of travel commerce.
The company is headquartered in the United States with Asia Pacific operations based in India and local analysts on five continents.
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