escorted tours trends destinations Trend game Escorted touring is on the up, but what’s in store for 2017, asks Katie McGonagle

@katie_mcgonagle

ow trendy is your average w FAST AND FURIOUS Hescorted touring client? Forget lounging around on the If ‘not very’ is the answer that beach – the growth in active FAST FACT springs to mind, think again. tours shows no signs of slowing Research by YouGov Even if they’re not the type to down, and is even branching and 18-30s specialist pay attention to the latest looks out beyond the obvious Topdeck found over at London Fashion Week or the destinations and clientele. a third of millennials glossy pages of Vogue, touring “Cycling is becoming more are influenced by

clients are more ‘on trend’ than popular across the board,” says social media

they might appear. Intrepid Travel head of business They’re already leading the development Daniel Pawlyn. “As way by tapping into a growing people look for new and exciting sector of the industry. Whether ways to explore a destination they’re young, adventurous rather than simply travel through types keen to take on the it, old favourites such as Vietnam Salkantay Trek (the Inca Trail is remain popular, but for 2017, we so last season); solo travellers are introducing trips to non- who won’t be deterred from Iran traditional cycling destinations or Uzbekistan just for the want such as Japan, Burma, Sri Lanka, of a like-minded companion; or India and Tanzania.” tourists who value those under- The operator is adding varied the-skin experiences you simply trips such as Hike, Bike and can’t get by yourself, they’re all Kayak Vietnam, and seven new way ahead of the curve. active family holidays, ranging To make sure you’re steering from biking through Morocco’s them in the right direction, we Atlas Mountains to white-water asked operators for their take on rafting along the Zrmanja River the touring trends for 2017, so in Croatia. read on and you’ll be the Anna Active trips are also opening Wintour of travel in no time. up new sides of familiar

10 November 2016 travelweekly.co.uk 49 escorted tours trends destinations

left: destinations. Europe is the Austrian adventure playground du jour for Tyrol the likes of Tucan Travel, which has added two nine-day hiking right: tours to Bulgaria and Romania, Persepolis, Iran and G Adventures, which is tipping Montenegro for the top with an eight-day sailing trip ex-Dubrovnik. Even Shearings Holidays, which skews towards an older audience, has brought in walking holidays to Switzerland and Austria for 2017, following Abta research that showed 6% of over-55s booked a sporting holiday. Across the pond, Grand American Adventures saw its active tour bookings rise by a whopping 27% this summer, with wildlife up 19% as well, driven by increased interest in the national increase in travel by train that European holidays by rail has and in the past 12 months, we backpacking, it’s time for an parks and great outdoors. it is launching a Greek rail tour never been more popular. More have seen a huge rise in bookings update. The appetite for comfort- for next year, alongside recent people are realising the network Travelling by heritage – in fact, we are currently 34% up level tours is bigger than ever, w STAYING ON TRACK additions in Portugal, Italy and of high-speed trains across on bookings through the trade with travellers demanding all While some travellers are keen Canada. Europe extends way beyond transport, whether compared to this time last year.” the individual attention of a to put the effort in themselves, That’s good news for rail destinations served by Eurostar. that be by steam Trends in solo travel, tailor-made package within a others are happier to sit back and specialists too. Tim Fleming, “Without any hassle at all, train, tram or bus, is unsurprisingly, reflect the wider group tour. Think higher-grade let the train take the strain, if the sales and business development passengers can be whisked off to proving very popular market, with more adventurous hotels, flexibility over meals and growth in rail tours is anything director at Diamond Rail Holidays, the Pyrenees, the Italian Lakes, destinations – Just You has excursions, and more inclusions. to go by. Saga has seen such an says: “Our programme of escorted Spanish Coast and beyond. added tours to Iran and Mongolia Carl Burrows, managing Travelling by rail in Europe is easy plus river cruises along the director at Collette, says: “For and affordable and, for those Brahmaputra in Assam, India, for 2017, we have included more in

; saga who enjoy an escorted holiday, 13% increase in the number of next year – but also a return to every tour than ever before. From el v it is a fantastic alternative to 50‑plus solo female travellers so-called ‘safe’ destinations. adding extra meals, excursions travelling by coach too.” over the past three years, Andy Fairburn, marketing and amazing hotels, we have now Steam is making a comeback compared with an 8% increase manager for fellow specialist included gratuities in our tours,

; intrepid tra too, according to Maria Cook of among men the same age, and Solos, says: “Geopolitical events making them even more inclusive Ffestiniog Travel. “Tram tours women are opting for longer and have shaped travel trends over than ever. We also recognise are proving very popular as they more adventurous tours to boot. the past 12 months and are how individual our customers combine travel by several modes Single travellers make up 18% of likely to continue to do so into are, hence we introduced more

; diamond rail of transport, both modern and Wendy Wu’s customer base in the 2017. Customers are choosing choices on tour so they can heritage,” she says. “Travelling UK, and more than half of Intrepid to holiday in seemingly safer tailor their holiday experience by heritage transport, whether Travel’s. The latter has seen a destinations, such as Spain exactly the way they want it. For

; shearings it be a steam train, tram or bus, 38% growth in solo travellers and Italy, or opting for the example, they can choose which is something we are developing over the past five years, proving convenience and organisation restaurant they’d like to dine in more and more in our tours. individuals with an adventurous of an escorted tour, allowing at the Fairmont Chateau Lake ; just you Southern Sweden, Trams of streak are increasingly keen to scope for sightseeing, cultural Louise, or choose between a Central Europe, and English see their wish-list destinations, interaction and adventure, but whale-watching cruise and a sand Trams and Trolleybuses are all even if friends and family don’t with the guidance and support of dunes adventure in New England.” rekamerica

; T new examples of this.” feel the same. an accompanying tour leader. Cosmos Tours & Cruises has, el v That’s reflected in bookings “With the introduction of new likewise, seen more demand w SINGLE FILE by specialist operators such as ‘safe’ destinations such as Korea, for its premium-level ‘Select by Escorted tours have always been Just You and Solos, which focus Peru and Albania, bookings for Globus’ range, which includes

; tucan tra popular with solo travellers, but on solo travellers. All Leisure our Discovery programme have private home pick-ups, higher- it seems more people than ever Holidays group sales director increased by 25% in the past year.” grade hotels, and more included are leaving friends and partners Colin Wilson says: “Solo travel excursions and meals. The at home and ticking off their continues to grow in popularity w ARE YOU SITTING operator has added 22 premium : failte ireland s personal travel list by joining a at an exponential rate. Just You itineraries for next year. left: The COMFORTABLY? Canadian, group tour. has been taking solo travellers on If your idea of escorted Lucy Jackson, European

PICTURE Via Rail Wendy Wu Tours has seen a holiday for more than 10 years, touring is barely a step above product manager at

50 travelweekly.co.uk 10 November 2016 10 November 2016 travelweekly.co.uk 51 destinations trends escorted tours

left: ASK THE Tikal, EXPERTS Guatemala

right: Lake Louise, Canada

below: Killarney, Ireland

Brian Young, managing director, G Adventures “Today’s traveller is looking for more sustainable and authentic travel options, so anything agents can do to arm Shearings Holidays, says: “We’ve seen more two-week tours for time-poor For G Adventures, that means more themselves with this a demand for more flexibility, whether professionals seeking adventure without homestays and more social enterprise kind of information that’s being able to choose from a the luxury of a backpacker’s time-scale. projects, so travellers can give back will help them sell range of hotels – varying locations to the communities they visit, while more adventure or varying star ratings – tailoring the w LIVING LA VIDA LOCAL Intrepid Travel has added local travel trips. Agents board basis, or customising itineraries. It’s hardly new to say escorted experiences such as joining a nomadic have a big part to We offer ‘Your Holiday, Your Way’ on touring gets travellers to the heart of Berber family on a walking expedition play in helping our river cruises, which lets customers a destination – one of its key selling through the High Atlas Mountains sell responsible combine cruises and pre or post-cruise points has always been experiences next year. Likewise, Cox & Kings is holidays and stays so their holiday is unique and that immerse guests in the destination introducing more market tours and educating the personalised to their own preferences.” – but operators have been stepping up opportunities to meet local people for consumer on better Even at the younger end of the their game even further. next year, following positive feedback ways to travel that market, there’s demand for more for activities such as calligraphy lessons help keep money in comfortable accommodation. in China and tea ceremonies in Japan. local economies.” TrekAmerica’s Plus tours, added this is also year, use value-driven hotels and FAST FACT responding to good feedback about lodgings rather than the brand’s existing activities – joining local APT, Leger Holidays, standard camping accommodation, Riviera T fisherman to see the early-morning ravel and and have already attracted a slightly Tauck report a catch in Kerala or staying overnight older demographic, with an average significant rise in in a traditional Rajasthani village – age of 26 and an 87% female take‑up. tour-and-cruise by adding more, with a new village Tucan Travel has rebranded its combos stay option in South Africa and a Louise Heatley, ‘Budget Expeditions’, aimed at 18-35s, Harley‑Davidson biker tour through head of product as ‘Adventures for 20s & 30s’, with the Canadian Rockies. and contracting, “We have already introduced seven new Great Britain and Ireland tours for 2017, and have plans to bring in more with our December brochure release. We have seen an increase in domestic bookings, especially to Ireland, and anticipate this will only increase next year.”

52 travelweekly.co.uk 10 November 2016